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Mrs. Osborne ~ 8th Grade English/Language Arts ~ Room 303 |
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 Read All About It! In this section you will find book reviews of contemporary and popular literature your peers are reading. Look through the selected book reviews to find something that might be of interest to you................happy reading!
Michael Morpurgo ISBN: 0 – 545 – 05798 - 1 Nonfiction $4.99 Do you want to know what it is like to be in the midst of a bloody war? Do you want to know what it would be like being an innocent horse in the midst of these wars? In the story, War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo, the answers to these questions will be found. This outstanding author’s writing is so good that it has returned, as a play, to the National Theatre. Morpurgo has also written over 100 children’s books. This book is 165 pages long. This book is a holiday one should read to take a break from a long book or series. In the story, War Horse, a horse named Joey, is practically sold into slavery. Joey is just like any typical farm horse. The farmer’s son, Albert, loves him so much that he wants to keep him forever. Albert expresses his love for Joey when he states, “So you’ve done it, my beauty, and I’m so proud of you I could kiss you, you old silly,” (Morpurgo 15). Albert’s father is always drunk and treats the horse like he doesn’t even exist. His father sells Joey to the soldiers without Albert knowing. Once Albert finds out what his father has done, he misses Joey dearly and wonders if he will ever get to see him again. Joey’s feelings are very similar and he wonders if he will ever get love like that ever again. Joey is eventually sent to Europe where he fights in a Civil War. There are many harsh situations that Joey faces there. This book has many different settings. The first place is at Joey’s barn. This is where Albert raises Joey. The story also takes place in Europe. This is where Joey fights in World War One. The setting was described when Joey states, “Desolation and destruction were everywhere. Not a building was left intact. Not a blade of grass grew in the torn and ravaged soil,” (Morpurgo 57). There are many traits that describe Joey, the innocent old horse who is sold into the war. Joey is loveable, dependable, and brave. One example of how his first owner loved him is when the story states, “ One hot summer evening, long after a long and dusty day in the fields, I was deep down into my mash with oats, with Albert rubbing me down with straw and talking,” (Morpurgo 16) Next, Joey is dependable. While Joey is at war, many of the horses on his team become weak and cannot be depended on to get the work done. Although, Joey becomes very tired throughout the many days and nights of fighting, but he never gives up. The author shows Joey’s trait of being dependable when he states, “The shells whined and roared overhead, and every explosion seemed like an earthquake to us. But the squadron galloped on inexorably through it all toward the wire at the top of the hill, and I went with them,” (Morpurgo 59). The author, Michael Morpurgo’s true style of writing is shown in the story, War Horse. One thing he uses is foreshadowing. The author also uses great details of war. One example of his great war descriptions is shown when Joey states, “From both sides of me I heard a gradual crescendo of excitement and laughter rippling along the trenches,” (Morpurgo 113). Finally, the author also uses dialogue throughout the story when the soldiers talk. Just like any other story, the War Horse has a theme to it. The theme in this story is, no matter how hard things get in life, you should never give up and keep trying your best. I have also been able to take many other things out of this story. I have finally learned what it is like to be fighting in a war. Before I read this book, I didn’t really notice how much pain and agony there is today over in the Middle East. This book made me feel proud to know that I live in America and that I have people fighting, and losing their lives so that I can have freedom in this country. Out of five stars I would give it a four. First off, this book was made into a play. The author shows his great descriptions of the war times when he states, “We were led away by two nervous soldiers down farm tracks, through orchards, and across a bridge before being tied up beside a hospital tent some miles from where we had been captured,” (Morpurgo 63). Finally, this book is only 165 so it is not a long read. Do you still want to know what it is like to be in the midst of a war as a horse or a person? Well, start reading the War Horse and you can find that out. Hannah Eldridge October, 2008 The Memory Keeper’s Daughter By Kim Edwards Realistic Fiction ISBN 0-14-303714-5 $14.00 People and life are complicated. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards is an engaging and thought provoking novel about decisions we make and the ripple effect on themselves and others. In a split second, David Henry makes a decision to lie to his wife and gives his daughter away. Although some decisions might be made for honorable reasons, they might not always be the best choice. Kim Edwards wrote this wonderful story after a pastor in her church shared with her the true story of a man who found later in his life that he had a brother who he never knew about, the brother was born with Down’s Syndrome, had been institutionalized, and had passed away. Although initially she didn’t consider writing a book about this, she wrote the book after participating in a workshop called “Minds Wide Open” for mentally challenged people. David Henry has many contrasting personality traits, and throughout the book his actions often contradict themselves. David is a doctor and a photographer. Precision, accuracy, and focus are important to his success. Yet in his personal relationships, he lies, deceives fails to make a meaningful connection with his son, Paul. David’s focus on Paul is flawed; he wants Paul to become something that Paul doesn’t want to be, and David rejects Paul because his goals aren’t David’s. His marriage to Norah is also flawed. Although some might see David’s decision in the childbirth scene as honorable (sparing Norah’s feelings), I think that he is offensive in not giving enough credit to Norah to be able to decide for herself what should be done with Phoebe. Even though he denies Norah her motherhood, I nevertheless admire David for continuing to take (financial) responsibility for Phoebe and Caroline (her caretaker), and keeping in contact with them. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter spans 25 years in the lives of the Henry and Gill-Simpson families in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area. During a blizzard, David’s wife goes into labor, and David and his nurse, Caroline, must deliver the baby. However, Norah delivers twins- one perfectly healthy boy and a girl suffering from Down Syndrome. Thinking that he is sparing Norah of a future of hardship, embarrassment, and struggle, David makes a monumental decision that will affect every character in this book’s lives. “Our world will never be the same.” (Edwards 17). David’s punishment for this decision is a future of deceit from those he loves, and having to wonder if he did the right thing for everyone involved. Kim Edwards does a great job at using symbolism, especially with David Henry. As a photographer, David always seeks the perfect shot. He succeeds at having the image of the perfect family and the perfect life, but fails at truly having them. As a doctor, David is a healer, but as a husband and father, he is destructive. “I realize it was wrong… but by then it was too late.” (Edwards 274). Kim Edwards is also very good and making characters contrast each other. For example, in spite of her Down Syndrome, Phoebe turns out to be the type of person that David had hoped he would have, and what he wished his son Paul could be. For example, Phoebe is obedient, physical and affectionate, and eager to please. Paul on the other hand is independent, unaffectionate and isn’t motivated to please others. Norah and Caroline are different as well. Caroline is loyal, devoted, and loves unconditionally. Norah has affairs, is timid in her emotions, and loves conditionally. Everyone in this book struggles, but the struggles are all different. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is about decisions we make, the consequences of those decisions, and the ripple effect a decision made in a moment can have on others for a lifetime. It’s also a story about second guessing ourselves, and always thinking “what if…”. It’s a complicated story with complicated characters. Although I thought what David did was wrong, I can still see that he thought he made an appropriate choice. Although I can applaud David and Caroline for sparing Norah’s feelings, it’s hard to like them because the fact remains that they denied a mother her child. I like that Edwards lets the reader come to their own opinion about the characters. No one is all bad, and no one is all good, except for Phoebe. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was published in 2005 and was #1 New York Times bestseller. It has been called “absolutely mesmerizing” by Sue Monk Kidd (author, The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair). I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars, only because I think Kim Edwards could have trimmed down some of the descriptions and could have given Norah a stronger personality. I think this book is a great book to read with a partner or group, because the story is complicated and could be subject to many different opinions. It’s a great book to talk about. I like the way this novel ends. David is the “Memory Keeper” for a daughter that he never fathers. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Book Review by Caroline Tomsik “There is nothing perfect,” August said from the doorway. “There is only life (Kidd, 256).” This quote teaches an important lesson in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It is one of the most powerful books today; it tells a story of mothers, daughters, and the undeniable power of love. Set in 1964 in South Carolina, Lily Owens is still haunted by the day her mother was killed. Dealing with this loss and with a harsh and abusive father, Lily’s life is growing hard to bear. Then Rosaleen, Lily’s outspoken nanny, is thrown into jail after standing up to three of the most extreme racists in town. Lily sees her chance to escape her father and to help her “stand-in mother.” The two run away to Tiburon, South Carolina, where Lily will discover her mother’s secret past. Lily and Rosaleen are soon taken in by May, June, and August, three African-American, beekeeping sisters. Lily is welcomed into the world of bees and honey, where she is introduced to the Black Madonna, a figure the three sisters worship. Not only will Lily discover the meaning of true family, she will find herself along the way. The Secret Life of Bees is suited for mature readers looking for a classic story of love and family. This book is well-deserving of a nine out of ten rating. 302 pages of captivating historical fiction, this book will have you relishing every page. Shattering Glass by Gail Giles Book Review by Matt Farrelly Awe, slowly turning to anger, anger turning to fury, fury quickly turning to the unforgivable act: murder. Shattering Glass is the story of a stereotypical nerd who goes through a transformation in a very non-stereotypical manner. The story revolves around a high school in-crowd: kind, intelligent Young, “dumb” future athlete, Coop, ladies-man Bob, and beguiling new kid, Rob. When the four kids see super-geek Simon Glass being picked on before school, Rob forms a plan. Over the next few weeks, they begin molding bumbling Glass into a popular kid by trying to get him to win “Class Favorite” for the senior class. Along the way, the foursome begins to learn more about one another, perhaps too much. Although the first paragraph reveals the ending, it is still shocking, and will leave the reader dumbstruck with grief. This 215 page book is a quick read, but it has an incredibly clear, fast-moving plot. I would recommend Shattering Glass to students in eighth to twelfth grade, with a rating of a nine point five out of ten. The details are good, and not too complicated. The story is very serious throughout, and I had a constant nervous feeling as I read it. Shattering Glass is impossible to put down, and I will guarantee that you don’t sleep soundly the night you finish it. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen Book Review by Pat Keenan Crash. Famished. Scared. Dehydrated. Divorce. These are all words to describe the excellent writing of Gary Paulsen in Hatchet. This book is categorized as an adventurous book and is short, having only 181 pages; however, and anyone enjoys it, especially those looking for an easy holiday book. The protagonist, Brian, has to face a dreadfully horrible situation of surviving in the wilderness in northern Canada completely alone. He is forced to deal with problems such a starvation, pneumonia, and others aspects like those. He is always having thoughts about his parents’ divorce through the whole book, and occasionally ponders about “The Secret” as he calls it. This book would be worth reading for its good moving plot and its way of connecting to the reader. I would rate this book a seven out of ten because of its fast moving plot. Gary Paulsen is amazing and his book Hatchet is simply phenomenal. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by: Mark Haddon Book review by Michael Murray Sling! Cling! Slam. This quote reveals the action that is happening when Christopher found Wellington dead, (8, Mark Haddon). “I pulled the fork out of the dog and lifted him into my arms and hugged him. He was leaking blood from the fork holes.” The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a 226 page, mystery novel. I believe this book is appropriate for grade seven to ten because of murderous detail and language. I rate this mysterious novel a nine out of ten. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a story about a fifteen year old boy named Christopher John Francis Boone, who is born with autism. Christopher is stuck in a dreadful life with his lonesome dad, Ed Boone, and his so called dead mother, Judy Boone. Christopher is outside his house late one night when he discovers a pitchfork implanted into his neighbor’s poodle, Wellington. This is only one of the troubling incidents in the novel, Christopher Boone will face. This book is worth reading because of its mysterious themes and will make any reader keep thinking; this book will make a connection with the reader and will make even the strongest readers guessing throughout. The Once and Future King by T.H. White Book Review by Ashay Patel What is the true story of King Arthur and the Round Table? What are the true aspects of the code of Chivalry? What is England like during the Middle and Dark Ages? The Once and Future King by T. H. White answers all these engaging questions in the form of an entertaining novel. This book is a conglomeration of historical fiction, mythology, romance, and fantasy, and contains 638 pages of pure masterpiece. Anyone with a taste for classical literature, fantasy, or even historical fiction would regard this book as one of the finest examples of a true advanced novel. This book is directed towards a generally developed audience and has a large amount of mature content. The protagonist of this novel is none other than King Arthur. Arthur’s most important facet is his idea of how “Might is Right” is not the right way of thinking. Arthur has a revolutionary idea that no other king of England has ever had before. Kings in the past use power, Might, and use it to wage senseless wars and impose ridiculous laws. Instead, Might should be used to enforce righteousness; therefore, Arthur creates the Round Table. This group of the most agile, skilled, and valiant knights enforces Chivalry, or a philosophy of truth and courage, as law. There are many antagonists in this story, but the major one is Arthur’s own son, the malicious Mordred, who conspires to overthrow him as king. I rate this book as eight and a half out of ten for two reasons. First, the plot is highly developed and fast-paced. There are minimal times of boredom when reading this epic novel. In addition, the suspense in the novel compels the reader to keep reading until the end of the story. This novel, not only has romance, adventure, and numerous other genres all in one, but also makes a statement about how one individual can change the way an entire civilization thinks Book Review by Kathryn McSweeney Johnny, Katie, Francie, Neely. These characters all make the classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith come alive. This 483 page book was a challenge for me to read, because the point a view switched multiple times. The protagonist in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is Francie Nolan. She is extremely hardworking and loves her family very much. Francie shows how much she cares for them by dropping out of school to get a job. This is the ultimate sacrifice for Francie because she enjoys school. The Nolan’s live in Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn is a very tough place for the Nolan’s. They have trouble bringing money in, because Johnny, Francie’s father does not have a steady job; Johnny is a singing waitress. On top of all this, Johnny has a drinking problem, so he drinks all of his tip money away. Katie, Francie’s mother has to take cleaning and laundry jobs just so her kids can have food in their mouths. If Francie and her brother Neely wish to have spending money, they have to sell scraps. This is hard work, and normally does not amount to much money. The end of the book is very surprising and satisfying. I am giving A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a nine. This book is definitely worth reading because it reminds people that life wasn’t always as easy as it is now. It also shows that if a family sticks together they can get through anything. Without Johnny, Katie, and Neely, Francie’s life in Brooklyn would not be the same and she would not have as many opportunities. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli Book Review by Vanessa Newsom “I’m not a Jew, I’m a gypsy,” says the gypsy and the stop thief who nobody can catch. He will snatch bread from any lady on the street. He lives on the streets of Warsaw, usually sticking close by an orphan named Uri. He admires Nazi’s and their shiny, black jackboots and wants to be one someday. However, everything slowly changes; he suddenly sticks to the identity of Misha Pilsudski and he no longer looks at the jackboots the same way. He will no longer be able to roam the streets after curfew and any punishment could be fatal. Moreover, the highly recommended book, Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli is 224 pages long. This historical fiction tale takes place in the times when the Nazis controlled Warsaw. It is about Misha, the young stop thief gypsy-Jew, who is the protagonist of the story. Misha lives his life with a band of orphan boys and a young girl who is settled into the Warsaw ghetto along with her family. This book is an intense and heartfelt story told from a young orphan, although he makes his unfortunate events humorous because of his stupidity and silliness. I rate this book a seven out of ten and I would recommend experiencing this book for its adventure, humor and its excellent description of the brutal setting. If someone enjoys reading about the Jews and their struggles during the times of the Warsaw ghetto, I strongly encourage reading this book.
"I am an Outcast. The kids behind me laugh so loud so I know they're laughing about me. I can't help myself. I turn around. It’s Rachel, surrounded by a bunch of kids wearing clothes that most definitely did not come from the EastSide Mall. Rachel Bruin, my ex-best friend. If there is anyone in the entire galaxy I am trying to tell what happened, it’s Rachel. Her eyes meet mine for a second. ‘I hate you,’ she mouths silently,” (Anderson 4). As intriguing as it may sound, Melinda Sordino, the main character in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, has the most depressing and silent year transitioning from middle school into her freshmen year, all because of one phone call that she makes. Abandoned by her friends and ignored by her parents, Melinda begins to live her life in silence. The only person that can really see she has a problem is her art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Briefly after she finally tells someone of the atrocity she had lived, she is denied and rejected once more. But what happens when The Beast, Andy Evans, comes back into her life and plans to hurt her once more? This short story is 197 pages long and is considered young adult fiction. The type of person that would want to read this would be willing to explore the life of a girl moving into high school after a rough summer. I would give this book a nine out of ten because it let me take a glimpse into someone else’s life, while enclosing me with a massive wave of description and details; however it was not overloaded, just right. In addition, I could believe, trust, and felt certain closeness to Melinda, especially when she starts to share what she thinks of herself, like when she says things like, "I am an Outcast." Overall, Speak is a phenomenal story that needs to be told in order for people like us to realize some of the repulsive truths of high school. The Lemonade War Book Review by Glenn Holland In The Lemonade War, two siblings battle to determine which one of them can make the most money selling lemonade during the last week of summer vacation. The brother and sister couldn’t be more different. Evan Treski is a social whiz but barely an adequate student; however, his genius sister Jessie is so smart that she is skipping the third grade. It’s when Evan and Jessie learn they’ll be in the same fourth grade classroom that their quarrel gets red hot over who can sell the most ice cold lemonade. In this 173-page book, Jacqueline Davies takes the reader along on a wild ride of relentless competition between brother and sister. Once Evan and Jessie get a taste of success from their lemonade sales, they declare all-out war. The book is written from a marketing perspective with chapters such as “Partnership . . . two or more people pooling their money, skills, and resources to run a business, agreeing to share the profits and losses” and economic tidbits like “Franchise: the right to sell a company’s products and use the company’s name and logo in a certain area.” This book is better than a two for one lemonade special on a hot summer day as the reader is enlightened and entertained by the delicious plot of Evan and Jessie during their business quests. Even the most hesitant of readers will drink in this realistic fiction book with a bombshell ending.  |
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