Tips to Write Your Own Book Reivew

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    Be a Contributing Writer!

Writing the Review

1)  Start out with a quote, brief story from the book, or sentence that grabs your reader's attention. 

2)  Give us a brief glimpse into the characters, setting, and plot but DON'T give away the ending! Leave us begging to find out what happens.  
3) Give your rating of Good, Bad or Epic and a reason for your rating.
4)  Write your first name only and grade at the bottom of your review 
5) Add a photo of the book cover and include a tiny url of where you found the photo
6)  Don't forget to check out the book reviews written by your friends on the blog! You can also post comments to your friend's reviews with a gmail account.  

How to Post Your Blog

Send your review to Mrs. Ross by email at rossj@emhs.net.  She will review and post it for you.  

OR

Send a request to Mrs. Ross to become a book review author using a gmail account enabling you to write your own book reviews on the blog.  

Mrs. Ross Summer Reading 2014

Students!  Welcome back.  I know it's a little hard to get started back to school for most everyone, but one of my favorite parts of the new school year is the book conversations that I have the first week with you. I love having you come to the library with new reading recommendations, comments on your summer reading, and your readiness to check out new books.  Here's to a new year of reading together!

Here's a peek into some of my summer reading.


Counting by 7's
By Holly Goldberg Sloan
Middle Grades

Being a genius is a lot harder than it sounds.  Often you don't quite fit in with the other kids... at least that's what Willow Chance has found to be true.   Just when Willow has started to feel hopeful for the future, a tragic accident puts her in the hands of a lazy school guidance counselor and a nail salon family.

This book has received a lot of attention and recognition this year for being well written and thought provoking.

My Rating:  Good


The Light Between Oceans
By M.L. Stedman
High School/Adult

Tom and Isabel enjoy the privacy and freedom of their own island as they watch over a lighthouse off the coast of Australia.  One day a baby girl washes up to their island, and it seems like a miracle after the loss of several babies of their own.  They quietly claim her as their own, and it isn't until several years later that this secret begins to unravel.

Don't start this book until you have time to finish it!

My Rating:  Epic!


Hot Zone
By Richard Preston
High School/Adult
This is a nonfiction thriller that I listened to as an audio-book on my way to Vermont. This is called the "terrifying true account of the origins of the Ebola virus." Although written in 1994, it has horrifying implications, considering what is happening in Africa this summer with the Ebola virus outbreak.

A fascinating non-fiction read with real life connections!

My Rating: Good


The One and Only Ivan
By Katherine Applegate
Upper Elem/Middle Readers

Ivan, a silverback gorilla, tells this tale from his "domain" (or cage) at a mall. When he makes a promise to a dying friend, he uses his artistic skills, ingenuity, and leadership abilities to make things happen. As a Newbery winner, I was hoping to be more impressed than I was with this book.

My Rating:  Good 

                                            Four: A Divergent Collection
By Veronica Roth
Middle/High Readers

The Divergent trilogy has been wildly popular with readers from youth to adult and has recently been made into a movie.  Four is a series of short stories that follow Divergent (Book One) from the viewpoint of Tobias.  Although it was intriguing to read a familiar story from another point of view, I didn't find this book compelling on its own; however, I would recommend it to die-hard fans of the Divergent saga.

My Rating: Good


The Invention of Wings
By Sue Monk Kidd
High School/ Adult 

Sarah Grimke is eleven years old when her parents gift her with her own slave girl.  Sarah tries to return this unwanted gift but Hattie is hers to keep.  The story follows the two girls growing up in the same house but who have very different life journeys.

This book comes from the author of The Secret Life of Bees.

Rating: Epic (emotionally) / Good (enjoyable)


Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey
By Nick Bertozzi
Middle/High Readers

This graphic novel depicts the dangerous Antarctic exploration led by Ernest Shackleton in 1914. In this real life adventure, the gritty details, harsh realities, and astonishing feats are told with minimalist pictures and word bubbles.

Somehow, I found myself caught up in the drama of the story without realizing whether I was reading text or scrutinizing pictures. If you've never tried a graphic novel, this is a great one to start with!

Rating: Epic

What have you been reading? Have they been good, bad or epic?

*All images taken from amazon.com

Seedfolks- Paul Fleischman

Seedfolks

By Paul Fleischman

- Picture taken from Google Images

It starts only with dirt, sun, water, and a seed. Paul Fleischman's book captures the story of many different people. Some old, some young, some expecting a new life into their family. In a "dump", a little girl plants 3 bean seeds as a way of mourning. That little girl, is the whole reason that this community garden started. It's "knitted" together the community, in a sense through many different people.

RATING: EPIC!

Review by: Sara Beth

7th Grade

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli

"Happy Birthday dear Leo, Happy Birthday to you!

Stargirl Caraway is a newcomer at Mica High. She gets all the attention in the lunchroom especially from Leo  Borlock, who will later come to know her very well. Leo, embarrassed and desperate, begs Stargirl to become something she can't: normal. 

Blog by Sara Beth

7th Grade

Rating: EPIC!

A Charmed Life

A Charmed Life

by Jenny B. Jones

" Don't you want to move back to New York with Dad?"

Bella Kirkwood was living the life full of luxury in New York City. But when her Mother remarries to a wrestler named Jake, things change a lot. Bella and her Mom move to Oklahoma to live with Jake and his boys in the country. Bella thinks her life is completely ruined- her Dad takes away her credit card and she gets no cell phone service. Bella thinks her school life is rotten too. All the kids hate her, and as part of the school newspaper, Bella has to go dumpster diving for an article on the School Lunches. When someone tries to chase Bella and her family out of Oklahoma and back to New York, things get a little wild.

Blog by Sara Beth 

7th Grade

Rating: EPIC

Airhead

Airhead

By Meg Cabot

" Lulu, I wouldn't even know where to begin."

Em Watts didn't want to go with her sister to get an autograph signed at a new SoHo Stark Megastore. All she wanted to do was stay home and read a book. But when Em realizes that the guy signing autographs is more good-looking than she thought, it wasn't so bad. What she didn't know, was that she was about to be in an accident that would change not only her life, but also a teen super-star model's life forever.

Review done by Sara Beth

7th Grade

Rating: EPIC!!

Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind

by Sharon Draper

"I guess I figured out I was different a little at a time. Since I never had trouble thinking or remembering, it actually sort of surprised me that I couldn't do stuff. And it made me angry."

Eleven-year-old Melody was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was born. She has never been able to talk for herself, or do what she wants to do very easily. But when she goes to school for the first time, her teachers and friends notice something different about her: Melody has a photographic memory.  She is tested for a quizzing team, and makes the team with a perfect score on the test. Having Melody on the quizzing team does wonders! They make it all the way to Nationals in Washington D.C., but things go wrong: one thing after another. 

Review by Sara Beth

7th Grade

Rating: EPIC!!

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

By Lisa Shanahan

Image taken from Google Images

"I sit beside my father. I listen to his stories, the murmur of his magic. An owl hoots. The wind is soft against my skin. The fire crackles. The moon is close to sinking. And yet... and yet... I am filled with longing. Waiting  for something I do not know. It blurs the edges of all I do."

This story is being told through Gemma's point of view. Her sister is getting married in less than a year, to her boyfriend of one month. Along with the stress that being the flower girl in your sister's wedding puts on your shoulders, Gemma is Miranda, the main character in her school play. She makes two new friends, Raven, who's older brothers are juvenile delinquents, and Nick, who's mind is wrapped on saving the local park from a new shopping center.

Review By Sara Beth
7th Grade
Rating: Good

See You at Harry's

See You at Harry's

By Jo Knowles

Picture taken off of Google Images

"See you at Hawee's!" Charlie yelled.

Fern is a 12 year old girl who's parents own an ice cream shop. She not only has to deal with the embarrassment that her parents put on her shoulders, but also with a sudden death that will change her life forever.

Rating: EPIC!

Review by Sara Beth

7th Grade





There You'll Find Me

There You'll Find Me

Image taken from Google Images

 

 

 

Finley's life is changed forever by a trip to Ireland. During her journey, she encounters some neat people, including a crabby lady in a nursing home, but finds the peace that she has been looking for.

 

Rating: EPIC!

 

Review by Sara Beth

 

7th Grade





Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

 

 image from wikipedia.org

 

"Bring me the head of Oliver Plunkett!" 

Pat turned, his face flushed with excitement and rain. "We have to call the police. We have to call the Guards!"

This book is told in two stories with the author's point of view, that eventually turn into one. Pat and his best friend Sean are orphans who just witnessed the kidnapping of the head of Oliver Plunkett, Primate of Ireland. However, Sean wants nothing of it so Pat sets out on an adventure to recover it. Eddie is a boy trying to form his own gang and to also avoid the Resivoir Pups while dealing with his mom's boyfriend. After a short time, Eddie befriends Pat and who helps him, along with his friend Mo and a friend from his school, Gary.

Rating: Good

Reviewed by Brianna, 7th Grade

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

~"Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said. "Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me."

Colton is a 4 year-old boy who lives in a small town in Nebraska and has to have emergency surgery to save his life.  During that surgery, he slips from consciousness and gets a glimpse of God and his miracles.  

Rating: Good 

Sara Beth

7th Grade 

Middle School Students:


Welcome back to school!  I'm excited to work with you this year on book reviews for the library blog.

When you are writing your review...

1)  Start out with a quote, brief story from the book, or sentence that grabs your reader's attention
2)  Give us a brief glimpse into the characters, setting, and plot but DON'T give away the ending! Leave us begging to find out what happens. 
3)  Give your rating of Good, Bad or Epic and a reason for your rating.
4)  Write your first name only and grade at the bottom of your review
5)  Don't forget to check out the book reviews written by your friends on the blog! You can also post comments to your friend's reviews. 

Send your review to rossj@emhs.net.  I will read over your review and let you know if you need to make any additions and add it to the library blog.  Be sure to include the Title and Author of your book in the subject line.  

Happy Reading and Blogging!
Mrs. Ross 

Welcome Back to School!

 Welcome back to school!  It's hard to believe that summer has flown by and we are starting another school year.  School means hello to cooler weather, predictable routines, seeing friends everyday, sharpening new pencils, and the library once again filling with business and voices.  It's also good-bye to hot days on the beach, gardens, flip-flops AND many hours of reading ...just for the pure joy of it!  I took home a stack from our library and didn't get through all of them but made a considerable dent in the pile!

Here's my ramblings on my summer readings.  Since this blog is "the good, the bad, and the epic", I'll try to rate them with one of those options!

Title:  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Rating:  Good to Epic

Thoughts:  This is the amazing story of a woman named Henrietta Lacks who was only known to scientists for years as HeLa, the name given to her rapidly reproducing cells.  Her cells were used in the development of vaccines, knowledge of cancer, atomic bomb effects, and gene mapping.  The cells were harvested illegally and her family didn't know for 20 years after her death.   

A great "science" read with human interest stories.

Title:  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: Epic

I read this wildly popular book while floating down the Mississippi River on a houseboat this summer.  This was the second book that I read on a Kindle!

Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's, this story line follows three women who write a book together about the true stories of the "colored" help and the lives that they lead while working for white families. 


Title:  Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  If you like the TV show "Bones", you should try this forensic mystery about a 17-yr-old girl named Cameryn. She helps her father solve murder mysteries by looking at dead bodies!  This mystery involves the death of her English teacher and the arrival of a mysterious new boyfriend. This is a little gory! :-)




Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  I saw this book fly off the shelf this year in the EMS library as a popular classic read.   Although published in 1938, it still reads very comfortably for a modern day audience.  At the beginning of the book "Rebecca" has been dead for eight months but the legacy she leaves behind is both intimidating and horrifying for husband's new bride.

Title:  Black and White by Paul Volponi

Rating:  Good

Thoughts: A good pick if you are a basketball player or Walter Dean Meyers fan.  Black and White are nicknames of two friends who are a force to be reckoned with on the court.  Several mistakes they make soon put them at odds with their friendship, future and family.



Title:  The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  For all you Ted Dekker fans, I finally read several of his books this summer.  I wasn't sure that I would enjoy "thriller" books and while they were intense, I also loved some of his main points such as that we are each God's favorite... as was part of the bride collector story when all the most beautiful women in town were being killed!  Ack! Scary!  :-)
I also enjoyed his Blink of an Eye.

 Title:  Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen

Rating:  Epic

Thoughts:  I went to Guatemala for my cross cultural experience at EMU and heard many stories from the people there about the terrible war that claimed many lives.  In this story a boy named Santiago and his four year old sister are fleeing for their lives after the guerrilla soldiers attack their village.  The only way they will be safe forever is to leave Guatemala so they set out in a kayak for America...

I also LOVE Ben Mikaelsen's Touching Spirit Bear.  That is a MUST read!

Title:  Bless Me, Ultima
Rating: Good

Thoughts:  This is another book that I watched fly off the shelf this past year at EMS and wanted to read it for myself.  It is a coming of age story of a young boy in New Mexico.  I loved the Spanish words thrown in as well as learning the secrets of the curandera, the healer that comes to live with the family. 

 Title:  After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  This is a sequel to Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie. Two eighth grade guys are cancer survivors and also close friends.  They try to help each other overcome their personal challenges and start living again instead of just surviving.

 Title:  The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

Rating: Epic!

Thoughts:  This is a book about teaching reading but this is the book that I wish ALL my teachers had read at some point.  In order to develop a lifelong love of readings, students should be given silent reading time, personal book selection  and  teachers who loved to talk about books!

 Title:  The Circuit: stories from the life of a migrant child by Francisco Jimenez

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  A small book but full of poignant stories.  If you want to be content with your life, read about the hardships of being a migrant worker in California and the longing for education and a place to call home.

 Title:  A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Rating:  Bad to Good

Thoughts:  This wasn't a bad book but not very compelling for me. I loved the cover on this book much more than I actually enjoyed the story.  It was a short book told in dual narratives about the refugee struggle in Africa and also the grueling task of fetching water. 

 Title:  Maximum Ride:  The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  This is the first of many Maximum Ride books.  Max and her "family" are each unique due to some terrible experiments that were preformed on them as young children.  They can all fly but must remain vigilant because they don't want to be discovered and turned into circus freaks or worse... be sent back to the school where they came from.

 Title:  Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  This is a sequel to Locomotion.  If you enjoy books that are written using beautiful language and significant ideas put into simple words, try Jacqueline Woodson.  Lonnie writes letters to his younger sister who is living in a separate foster home.  He tries to "remember" everything that is happening to them while they are growing up apart.

 Title:  Teaching that Transforms:  Why Anabaptist-Mennonite Education Matters
     by John D. Roth
Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  As a product of Mennonite education and now part of the Mennonite education community, this read helped put into words what I so highly value about the Mennonite school experience and also reignited a call to teaching.






Title:  Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Rating:  Good

Thoughts:  We've all heard of Blackbeard, Long John Silver and "Yo-ho-ho!"  I've also read the young readers version of Treasure Island but never read the seafaring tale for myself.  An enjoyable read while riding on a boat... a bit reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean.
 


 There's a list of most of my summer reading.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the books above that you might have read or contact me to become an EMS library blog author yourself!