Book Review: The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden

The Journey That Saved Curious George
by Louise Borden
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-41746-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-41746-2
Publication Date: August, 2010
List Price: $8.99

Review: It all began with a little monkey - a monkey that brought hope and laughter - a monkey named George, Curious George. It would be a difficult task to find a child or adult who has never been touched by the antics of the curious monkey. George does everything we wish we could do, but are afraid to try! But more remarkable than George is the story of his creators, Margret and H.A. Rey, in The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden.

The Journey That Saved Curious George begins in 1906 when Hans Augusto Reyersbach was a boy growing up in Germany. From a very young age, Hans knew he had a special love for the zoo and for art. Eight years behind Hans, Margarete Waldstein was growing up in Hamburg, Germany with a dream of studying art. After serving in the German army in WWI, Hans left Hamburg for Brazil, where he found "Monkeys and more monkeys!" Nine years later, Margarete, a German Jew, left Germany as well and headed to Brazil. It was in Rio de Janeiro where she found a family friend, Hans and eventually she married him, they became Brazilian citizens, and honeymooned in France. It was in Paris where Margret and Hans developed the stories about a monkey named Fifi. But, as the Rey's were becoming more settled and dedicated to their children's books, the world fell apart, leaving the two artists on the run as they escaped Paris during the German invasion. Their tale is an inspiring tale, one that will bring hope and a sense of dedication to everyone who hears it.

The Journey That Saved Curious George is a phenomenal book. Written in the same fashion as all the Curious George books, the author creates the sense that they Rey's were the personified Curious George. Their adventure, though entirely factual, takes on a fantastic tone as it is told through prose. The illustrations by Allan Drummond are also modeled after the Curious George books, which add to the intrigue. Also, included in the test are copies of original documents written and signed by the Rey's. Margret and Hans Rey were truly remarkable people, and it has taken way to long for their story to be told. Everyone who has ever been touched by that cute little monkey and the man with the yellow hat must learn of the story of two people who left Paris on two shoddy bikes with minimal belongings, barely any money, and their manuscripts that told the story of a curious monkey named Fifi.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Journey That Saved Curious George for this review.

Have you read The Journey That Saved Curious George? How would you rate it?

Book Review: October by Gabrielle Lord

October
by Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-935279-59-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-935279-59-4
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $10.00

Review: The clock is ticking as Cal Ormond is down to three short months to uncover the truth behind the Ormond Singularity as October is set in motion in Gabrielle Lord's tenth installment in the Conspiracy 365 series. October begins with 16-year-old Cal escaping from his latest horrors - Snake and Jacko, two desert dwellers who want Cal for the reward money, and their vicious dog, Sniffer. But, luck is with Cal once again as he is able to defy probability and escape capture. His goal now is to get inside Oriana's safe at Zürich Bank. Cal's friends never cease to pull through as Boges is able to fabricate a fingerprint that will bypass security and fake disguises for he and Winter that will fool anyone. But, they still need Oriana's PIN. Is it possible that Cal can uncover the PIN to a Zürich Bank account? If he can succeed, will all the answers become crystal clear? If the past nine months are any indication, nothing will come easily to Cal, and every advancement will result in more danger and even more questions.

October does not disappoint the avid Conspiracy 365 readers. It is amazing that Gabrielle Lord is able to maintain a high level of intrigue, mystery, and suspense through ten books in a series. October seems to have slightly less pull than the other books; however, with only two months left, it can be assumed that we're hitting the calm before the storm. Everything will be revealed in two short months, and readers can't wait! Lord's writing is compelling from start to finish, as there is never a dull moment. Readers can't bear to put the book down, and when the end is reached, they'll be counting the days for the next month. She includes protagonists that induce readers to hold their breath until they are out of danger. Cal, Winter, and Boges are all filled with so much hope and admiration in spite of all they've been through. But, she also includes antagonists that readers love to hate! You'll find you eyes moving faster and faster across the page, in a desperate effort to save the heroes and destroy the foes; the pages just don't seem to turn fast enough. Once again, Gabrielle Lord can be hailed as one of the best writers of young adult suspense. It's almost disappointing that the year is coming to an end . . . but, although Cal's mystery will come to an end, hopefully Lord's writing won't.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of October for this review.

Have you read October? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
by Mary Downing Hahn
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-38560-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-38560-0
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $16.00

Review: Uncle said the dead did not return. He was wrong. This ghostly adventure book is The Ghost of Crutchfield Hal written by Mary Downing Hahn.

A girl named Florence goes to her uncle's house, where she meets her cousin James and the ghost of her cousin Sophia. Florence becomes friends with James, but Sophia uses Florence to try and kill James because she blames him for her death. In an effort to stop Sophia from haunting them, Florence and James re-create Sophia's death. Then as Sophia is killed again, James and Florence wonder if she is really gone! They don't know for sure but haven't seen or heard her wandering the house. Is Sophia really gone?

For the most part the characters are interesting, especially Florence. I like how the characters are described in this book; you get a lot of details. Plus the ending of the book really puts the whole story together, at which time everything that happens finally makes sense. I like the ending because it does not leave things hanging so you never know what happens, it tells you what happens. In The Ghost of Crutchfield Hal it does not take long before you are hooked - around the end of chapter one. Also this book is very well organized, and it moves at a good pace, helping to keep the reader interested. In fact, there are some parts of the story I kept reading it over and over because it got better and better. Overall though, I say it is a good story and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Review written by Katie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall for this review.

Have you read The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The PS Brothers by Maribeth Boelts

The PS Brothers
by Maribeth Boelts
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-34249-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-34249-8
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $15.00

Review: The PS Brothers is a book of responsibility and hard work, written by Maribeth Boelts. Russell Woods and Shawn Timmerman are just two 6th graders that are poor. They have nothing else but themselves and their family. Sixth grade is kind of difficult for them because every day they have to deal with their bully Terry that would always bother them and mess with their stuff. He would also be noisy.

The PS Brothers is mainly about Russell and Shawn trying to get a dog in the hopes that it would protect them from all bullies like Terry. But they don't want a cute, sweet dog, they want a mean, vicious dog that will frighten all bullies and make it so that no one would bully them ever again. So one day they passed a homemade sign that reads "Purebred Rottweiler's-$200". As soon as they see that sign they go to the owners house to get more information. The first payment would be $10 and the rest they could pay later. So they set out to find a way to raise money, and they eventually decide that the perfect job would be scooping up poop. Every day if they made money they would go make a payment to Nick the owner of the puppies. Will they ever able to raise enough money? Will the dog be able to protect them?

What I like about The PS Brothers is that Maribeth Boelts is so descriptive in the story. She provides a lot of details about a section of the story and what people would be doing as well as providing facts on topics. I also like that Maribeth made Russell and Shawn so creative about their ideas to raise money to buy a Pit bull and it is a great message to show they really believed in themselves. I did not enjoy the petty arguments that Russell and Shawn would get into because it seems pointless. But everything else I truly liked and it is just really creative. You should read this book because it will inspire you to do the impossible and regardless of how old you are. Just be creative like Maribeth Boelts.

When I read this book I wished there was more because I loved how they knew that their parents would not give them the money to buy a dog so they decided to create their own business and they too believed that they would succeed. I think this book is an amazing book because it can touch children to believe that they too can do whatever they want to do in life even though it can be very difficult. So you have to continue to find out did they raise the $200 dollars before the owner Nick give away the puppies or were they too late?

Review written by Ivonne (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The PS Brothers for this review.

Have you read The PS Brothers? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Curse of Deadman's Forest by Victoria Laurie

The Curse of Deadman's Forest
by Victoria Laurie
Oracles of Delphi Keep

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73573-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73573-5
Publication Date: August, 2010
List Price: $16.99

Review: Oracles, Demons, and a quest for the silver treasure boxes! This is what Oracles of Delphi Keep; book two, The Curse of Dead Man's Forest by Victoria Laurie is all about.

In this book 13 year-old orphan Ian Wigby and his fellow orphans, Carl and Theo, must enter a magical portal that sends them to who-knows-where to find the next oracle that has magical healing powers. But an ancient prophecy warns that if the three friends enter the portal, Ian will meet his impending doom! But when a great evil enters the keep, the three friends must figure out if risking Ian's life is worth finding the third oracle and healing all the children in the keep.

This is a great novel full of face-paced action, well-developed characters, and never-ending suspense. This book is very interesting, and very exiting. I just couldn't put it down! After I read the ending I turned the page expecting to find the next chapter waiting for me. I rate this book a five out of five. I rate the book this because I love anything having to do with mythology and this book is full of it! I love how right in the beginning it starts out with action. For example: "Something large and cone-like was zigzagging back and forth across the horizon." And "It's a cyclone!"

Review written by Anthony (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Curse of Deadman's Forest for this review.

Have you read The Curse of Deadman's Forest? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

Sing Down the Moon
by Scott O'Dell
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-40632-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-40632-9
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $6.99

Review: I'll be the first to admit it; Sing Down the Moon is one of my favorite books. Scott O'Dell once again scores a home run as far as popularity goes. He mixes emotion into a wonderful story with a Navaho girl, Bright Morning, who's captured by Spaniards to work as a slave. She doesn't know who to trust when a treacherous turn of events follows.

Scott O'Dell's sequel, Sing Down the Moon, follows up after Island of the Blue Dolphins. I love the way that Scott O'Dell creates a plot against the American soldiers and I actually believed that they were the evil enemy, and in a way they are. He says "I watched him in the saddle, stooped, and my heart went out to him". Talk about emotion! He uses excellent figurative language all throughout the story. I was hooked right away. The Navajo girl, Bright Morning, is captured by Spaniards. She's taken to a settlement and eventually flees with her friend as a "guide." They return to Bright Morning's tribe, only to find that they immediately have to flee from the American soldiers. They're taken to an Army camp and they eventually escape. What will they do now? Scott O'Dell's ending is remarkable. I like the way that Scott O'Dell mixes history in all of his stories. Personally, I like the way that he uses Native American names to bring across the characters' personalities. I love it. I hated the American soldiers when they tried to take over the Navajo people.

Review written by Colleen (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Sing Down the Moon for this review.

Have you read Sing Down the Moon? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Roll Up the Streets by John Badek

Roll Up the Streets
by John Badek
Non-series

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-935279-62-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-935279-62-4
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $15.99

Review: Brain-washing corndogs, an awful stink and not getting any candy! What could be worse than that? Not getting ANY candy, now that is not fun at all!!!! I read the book Roll Up the Streets, by John Bladek. The main characters are Jake Machet, a sixth grade student, and his friend Samantha Warkofski (Sammie).

Jake and Sammie are two students in a small town that really stinks! One day Sammie goes to Jake's house for dessert and Jake's dad overhears them talking mean about J. P. Rumblegut. Jake is grounded for three day while Sammie moves away. Maggie, Jake's little sister, tells Jake that she saw Sammie then Jake is so excited that he runs away to J. P.'s factory where he thinks he'll find Sammie. The good news is that he finds Sammie, but he ends up in much more trouble than before.

On the first reading, the beginning of the story is confusing, slow and Jake's little jokes and comments are supposed to be funny but instead are annoying. The story has little adventure or excitement until close to the end. One of the parts that I liked best was when a character changed into something that totally surprised me.

When I read the book again, the beginning was not as confusing and I liked Jake's comments more than the first time I read the book. I got much more out of the book the second time I read it, so I suggest you read the book twice too. In the end, I rate the book a 3 out of 5 stars because, for me at least, it required a second reading.

Review written by Michael (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of Roll Up the Streets for this review.

Have you read Roll Up the Streets? How would you rate it?