I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis

What character(s) in this book would you most and least like to be friends with, and why?

I would not like to be friends with the main character, Nathaniel’s uncle, Uriah Storch. I mean, how could you be so mean to your own nephew. So mean that your nephew left you, even though it was the only place he once called home. I felt bad for Nathaniel because he almost got killed on a bloody battlefield by a british soldier during the American Revolution. So I really would not be friends with “uncle” Uriah.

--8th grade

Lost in Time by Elisabetta Dami

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?

I just started reading Geronimo’s journey through time serial, and I love it. I read the fourth book, -Lost in Time- and I would definitely recommend the book. In this book, *SPOILER ALERT* Geronimo went back in time to Egypt during Cleopatra’s time, then to Mongolia during Genghis Khan’s time, and finally to England during Queen Elizabeth I’s time to figure out the significance of Cleopatra’s mirror, since it was owned by the 3 of them at some point in history. Definitely worth reading.

--8th grade

A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?

"A Wreath for Emmett Till" written by Marilyn Nelson is a non-fiction historical book that is described in poetry, that is a quick read. It takes you through the unfortunate event that Emmett and many other black people have faded through the years of slavery and racism. This young fourteen year old African American boy was unjustly lynched and murdered for the accusations of harassing a white women by whistling and hooting at her.* As these poems transcend you through Emmett Till's horrific experience,*. This particular story has inspired and brought justice and publicity to an unforgivable action. I would definitely recommend this book to people who would like to learn about history and mystery but as well as black rights.

- 8th grade

Princeless Vol. 1 and 2 by Jeremy Whitley

Princess is one of favorite comic book series EVER!!!!!!!!! Princess Adrienne is not your typical princess. Before you ask, no, she did not want to be locked up in a tower, but she was elbow-deep in that steak before she realized that it had sleeping potion in it, and the next thing she knew, there she was in that tower, supposed to be waiting for a prince to rescue her. Adrienne has other plans. When she finds a hidden sword under her bed, she teams up with Sparky, the dragon guarding her tower, Bedelia, a blacksmith, and they embark on a quest to save Adrienne's sisters. If you like Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, you will love this series.

- Lyra, 6th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

March: Book One by John Lewis

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

I always felt angry during the parts in the book where the black people would be mistreated by others for their skin color. It was extremely upsetting to even read about such events, and the fact that they actually happened is unbelievable. No one should ever be judged for who they are!

- 8th grade

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

This is a book that is based on the pieces of a little black girl growing up, whos name is Jacqueline Woodson. Growing up as a person, in general, she had to deal with siblings, parents, equity, whoopens, and just life moving at its regular pace.

- Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School

Ravenous by MarcyKate Connolly

This is the AMAZING sequel to the even FANTASTICER first book, "Monstrous". {READ both of them!}

In this book, there is still magic and adventure and secrets around every corner. Including who Greta & Hans really are.

READ THE BOOK!

- Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School

Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles edited by Jessica Burkhart

This book is 31 stories of struggles with Mental Illness. As someone without mental illness, it was interesting to see into the mind of someone who does. One of the authors, Megan Kelly Hall resides in Massachusetts. She's the author of the Sisters of Misery series and Dear Bully. Some of the topics can seem a little dark in one story or light hearted. Some authors make their mental illness into a character while others talk about it as a condition. I found this book really insightful and I hope you will too.

- Mariela, 8th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

More Than This by Patrick Ness

If you could ask the author/illustrator of this book one question, what would it be?

Call me crazy, but I always wonder what it FEELS like to die or what do you SEE after you actually die. Probably because I read too many dead people adventures.

In this book, Seth died by the hand of water, and wakes up striped naked inside a coffin in his old house. Throughout this book, Seth has to run, hide and venture {literally} into deaths territory.

The one question I would ask Mr. Patrick is why right THIS book? Don't get me wrong, I love it, but why right a adventure that "happened" after death? Had he flat lined before and was just interested in writing about death? Who knows?

- Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School

Space Boy By Stephen McCranie`s

To Amy every one has a flavor. her mom is the flavor of mint - sharp and bright. her dads flavor in like hot chocolate - sweet and full of gentle warmth.

Amy lives in a mining colony out in deep space, But when her dad loses his job they were forced to move to earth. Amy says goodbye to her best friend Jemmah and climbs into a crytube where she will spend the next 30 years frozen in state of suspended animation, hurtling in a rocket towards her new home. Her life will never be the same, but all she can think about is how when she gets to earth Jemmah will have grown up without her.

When Amy arrives on earth, she feels like an alien in a strange land. the sky is beautiful but gravity is heavy and the people are weird. Strangers still is a boy she meets at her new school- a boy who has no flavor.

space boy is a sci-fi drama about a high school girl who belongs in a different time, a boy possessed by emptiness as deep as space, an alien artifact, a mysterious murder and a love that crosses light years.

--Rafa, 6th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

Children of blood and bone by Tomi Adeyemi

this book is about magic and its super awesome but kind of sad, in that lots of people die, but it is very exciting, there are battles and a kind of romance and its really cool. WARNING: the end is a cliffhangar. the sequel comes out next year.

- Lila, 7th grade, Amigos School

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.)

I was kind of angry in the beginning when nobody really liked Four-Girl and didn't accept her for who she was. Four-Girl didn't do anything wrong, and she didn't deserve the unfair treatment she received from her family.

- 8th grade

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Just a FYI, this post is a little late. I just gotta say... This is a good book if I've ever read on read one! It is definitely the type of book I like. The narrator of this book about Liesel Meminger, a 9 year old girl, is death. The hole book is just basically death telling a story that is Liesel's life. Weirdly enough, there is no suspense, curiosity builds, but that's your imagination, death decides he doesn't like suspense so there will be none. It is a longer book, but very enjoyable. (550 pages to be exact) Oh! I forgot an important part, (it's actually very important, I don't know how I could forget!) Liesel's brother died on a train,and her mother put her up for adoption. She, if I'm correct, is Christian, or something close to it, and she grows up in Nazi Germany. I highly recommend this book!

--Samantha, 6th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

Barack by Jonah Winter

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?

Yes, I would recommend this book. This book tells you information in a fun way, and plus, this is basically a picture book so it has pictures to go along with the information. I learned a lot through this book and would recommend it to anybody!

--6th grade

Beast: A tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen

This book is like a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. This book is a bit shorter, it's only around 300 pages. But you will burn through them really quickly. There are a lot of plot twists in this book. The perspective of this book is one of the maids that serve in Château Beaumont. After being mistreated (severely) by the master of the house: Jean-Loup, Lucie vows to see him suffer. With the help of a mysterious magic, the Chevalier is transformed from handsome to beastly (literally). But soon after, Lucie realizes that Beast is nothing like Jean-Loup. He's kinder and has remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. And Lucie basks in this, until a beauty with the power to break the wonderful spell that brought this creature to life. This book is even better then the Disney version, the plot twists are more like sharp turns that you have to keep reading, rather then slow circles. Make sure to read this one. But also be careful because it includes brief sexual action in the beginning. But this is one happily ever after that you won't roll your eyes at.

- Mariela, 8th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis

When Lucas’ parents decided that football was a really dangerous sport, Lucas really couldn’t accept that. He has really been into football since he was in third grade. Lucas left on the bus to New York, instead of going to school. But then things didn’t go really well when he saw a plane flying really low, and a disaster happened.

- 8th grade

Claudette Colvin by Philip M. Hoose

This is book is about a 15-year-old girl who changes history. This book is also a 1st and 3rd person point of view. I recommend this book to people who are trying to reach their summer goals and I recommend this book to people who are interested in history. I would tell you more but I would just ruin the book for you guys. So if you want to know more the only way to find out is by reading the book!

--Maimouna, 7th grade, Rindge Ave Upper School

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

After reading this book, you feel like you want to be on the christians’ side, but when you read Boxers, you feel like you want to be on the Chinese people who have not yet became christians’ side. I like how Gene Luen Yang can write the book, and make us feel differently about different people/ groups of people.

--8th grade

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

This book is about the time when Christianity started to spread in China. The main characters of this book, and it’s sequel, Saints have met each other. But one is on the Chinese side. And in Saints, the main character is on the christians’ side. In Boxers, it tells the story in the perspective of a Chinese guy who believes in Chinese deities.

--8th grade

I Survived: The Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 by Lauren Tarshis

Which minor character in this book would you like to know more about? If there were a whole book about them, what would it be called?

I would like to know more about Marcus’ father, Tata. Because it seems like he plays a pretty decent role of shaping Marcus, the main character’s personality. I would like to know more about how he manages to take care of his son alone after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. After escaping from their master, since they were slaves.

--8th grade