This is a biography of 9/11 hero Welles Crowther. The book, filled with many interviews of family, begins by telling the story of Welles's childhood. Quickly the book zooms in on one choice he made in the final minutes of his life. This book is sad but also thought-provoking, and I recommend this book to everyone.
This book will be published in early September. Through the Fresh Ink Program at Porter Square Books, I read it for free as an Advanced-Readers-Copy to review it. Again, you definitely should read it when it's published.
- Margaret, Grade 7, Vassal Lane Upper School
Showing posts with label biography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biography. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Who is J.K Rowling By: Pam Pollack and Meg Beviso
What books would you recommend to the main character of the book and why?
I would recommend the Harry Potter series to J.K Rowling because she wrote them. I would also recommend the Percy Jackson series because it reminds me Harry Potter in a way.
- Anonymous
I would recommend the Harry Potter series to J.K Rowling because she wrote them. I would also recommend the Percy Jackson series because it reminds me Harry Potter in a way.
- Anonymous
Friday, August 26, 2016
The Inker's Shadow by Allen Say
If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?
In this sequel to Drawing From Memory, Allen is sent from Japan to a military academy in California. He is forced to wear a uniform and live in a barracks. He barely knows enough English to have a conversation. Allen saves enough money to buy a car, escapes, and tries to begin a fresh start. If someone liked this book, they should read Drawing From Memory.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
In this sequel to Drawing From Memory, Allen is sent from Japan to a military academy in California. He is forced to wear a uniform and live in a barracks. He barely knows enough English to have a conversation. Allen saves enough money to buy a car, escapes, and tries to begin a fresh start. If someone liked this book, they should read Drawing From Memory.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?
In this autobiography, Allen lives in Japan during World War II. His father discourages him from drawing, but Allen never gives up. He gets a scholarship to a school for arts, all the time having to get top grades. This is a wonderfully written, amazing story. I would definitely recommend it, especially to artists, because IT IS AWESOME!
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
In this autobiography, Allen lives in Japan during World War II. His father discourages him from drawing, but Allen never gives up. He gets a scholarship to a school for arts, all the time having to get top grades. This is a wonderfully written, amazing story. I would definitely recommend it, especially to artists, because IT IS AWESOME!
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Girls Who Rocked the World by Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden
If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?
This book is a collection of short biographies about famous woman who changed the world, from Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa. I highly recommend it. If someone liked this book, they should read Boys Who Rocked the World or The Daring Book for Girls.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
This book is a collection of short biographies about famous woman who changed the world, from Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa. I highly recommend it. If someone liked this book, they should read Boys Who Rocked the World or The Daring Book for Girls.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Boys Who Rocked The World by Michelle Roehm McCann
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?
Boys Who Rocked the World is an interesting collection of stories about certain men and what they did to change the world (example, Chester Greenwood, and inventor from the United States who invented earmuffs). If I could learn more about a character in this book, it would be Chico Mendes, a Brazilian activist who helped saved trees. If there was a book about him, it would be called Changing Chico.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Boys Who Rocked the World is an interesting collection of stories about certain men and what they did to change the world (example, Chester Greenwood, and inventor from the United States who invented earmuffs). If I could learn more about a character in this book, it would be Chico Mendes, a Brazilian activist who helped saved trees. If there was a book about him, it would be called Changing Chico.
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Who Were The Beatles? by Geoff Edgers
If you could rewrite one part of the story, what would you change?
Who Were The Beatles? is another good book in the Who Is/Was/Were series. It is about the famous rock band from the 60s who changed music. They all had different personalities; John, the peace guy, Paul, the romantic, George, shyer, and Ringo, my personal favorite. It is about these four boys and how they made music come more alive. If I could change one part of the story, it would either be that John was killed or that George had cancer and died. But Paul and Ringo are alive, and I got to see both of them play!
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Who Were The Beatles? is another good book in the Who Is/Was/Were series. It is about the famous rock band from the 60s who changed music. They all had different personalities; John, the peace guy, Paul, the romantic, George, shyer, and Ringo, my personal favorite. It is about these four boys and how they made music come more alive. If I could change one part of the story, it would either be that John was killed or that George had cancer and died. But Paul and Ringo are alive, and I got to see both of them play!
-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Who Is Stan Lee? by Geoff Edgers
If you could ask the author/illustrator of this book one question, what would it be?
This book is a biography about Stan Lee, the famous comic book writer. I learned so much about his life! This book made me want to read more comics. If I could ask the author of this book one question, it would be if he grew up reading Stan Lee's comics.
The author of this book is a family friend.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
This book is a biography about Stan Lee, the famous comic book writer. I learned so much about his life! This book made me want to read more comics. If I could ask the author of this book one question, it would be if he grew up reading Stan Lee's comics.
The author of this book is a family friend.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
What books would you recommend to the main character of the book and why?
Fun Home is an autobiography about growing up in a funeral home. Alison's dad is very depressed, but he is also a literary companion. This book is also about discovery of one's self, as Alison realizes that she is a lesbian. I would recommend Honor Girl to Alison because it is also about a lesbian finding herself.
Fun Home is also a broadway musical.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Fun Home is an autobiography about growing up in a funeral home. Alison's dad is very depressed, but he is also a literary companion. This book is also about discovery of one's self, as Alison realizes that she is a lesbian. I would recommend Honor Girl to Alison because it is also about a lesbian finding herself.
Fun Home is also a broadway musical.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Monday, August 15, 2016
Who Was Sojourner Truth? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
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?
This was an incredible book! It made me really admire Sojourner Truth for speaking up for women and supporting antislavery acts.
The minor character that I want to know more about is Robert. What happened to him after he left Belle? How long did he live? What happened to his cruel master? If there was a story about him, it would be called Losing Belle.
My sister researched Sojourner Truth!
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
This was an incredible book! It made me really admire Sojourner Truth for speaking up for women and supporting antislavery acts.
The minor character that I want to know more about is Robert. What happened to him after he left Belle? How long did he live? What happened to his cruel master? If there was a story about him, it would be called Losing Belle.
My sister researched Sojourner Truth!
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Who Was Anne Frank? by Ann Abramson
If you could rewrite one part of the story, what would you change?
This was a really good book in the Who Was series. If I could change one thing, I would change the fact that most of Anne's family and friends died. Except it is Non-fiction...
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
This was a really good book in the Who Was series. If I could change one thing, I would change the fact that most of Anne's family and friends died. Except it is Non-fiction...
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Saturday, August 13, 2016
The Thrilling Adventures Of Lovelace And Babbage by Sydney Padua
Lovelace and Babbage is a funny and lighthearted, yet serious and interesting graphic
novel/biography of the feminist icon Ada Lovelace and the (mad) scientist/inventor
extraordinaire, Charles Babbage. The two worked as a team in the mid-1800s to design and
build a computer. They drew up plans, built models, and began work on what they called the
“Difference Engine.” They never finished it, though, and they soon began work on a new
machine, the “Analytical Engine,” which could solve complex math problems, reason logically,
and even draw computer-generated art. Unfortunately, both Babbage and Lovelace died and the
computer never was built. The first computers were built 100 years later.
The characters in Lovelace and Babbage are funny, with Ada being portrayed as a brilliant,
semi-serious can-doer, while Babbage is portrayed as equally brilliant, yet goofy and a little out
of touch. Minion, Babbage’s sidekick, is loyal, but helpless and the Duke of Wellington is bossy
and (a little bit) mean.
The majority of Lovelace and Babbage is a funny, fictional comic about Lovelace and Babbage’s
alternative universe, adventures, with footnotes accompanying and explaining the ideas. The end
had detailed explanations of how the engine worked, and I recommend reading this part.
I thought Lovelace and Babbage was a masterpiece, not only of writing, but of art. The beautiful
pen-and- ink drawings do more than complement the writing. They give the story a whole new
dimension that other non-fiction books lack. Overall, I would recommend it for all middle
schoolers but older kids may understand it better. Adults may like it, too.
- Chris, 7th grade, CSCL
novel/biography of the feminist icon Ada Lovelace and the (mad) scientist/inventor
extraordinaire, Charles Babbage. The two worked as a team in the mid-1800s to design and
build a computer. They drew up plans, built models, and began work on what they called the
“Difference Engine.” They never finished it, though, and they soon began work on a new
machine, the “Analytical Engine,” which could solve complex math problems, reason logically,
and even draw computer-generated art. Unfortunately, both Babbage and Lovelace died and the
computer never was built. The first computers were built 100 years later.
The characters in Lovelace and Babbage are funny, with Ada being portrayed as a brilliant,
semi-serious can-doer, while Babbage is portrayed as equally brilliant, yet goofy and a little out
of touch. Minion, Babbage’s sidekick, is loyal, but helpless and the Duke of Wellington is bossy
and (a little bit) mean.
The majority of Lovelace and Babbage is a funny, fictional comic about Lovelace and Babbage’s
alternative universe, adventures, with footnotes accompanying and explaining the ideas. The end
had detailed explanations of how the engine worked, and I recommend reading this part.
I thought Lovelace and Babbage was a masterpiece, not only of writing, but of art. The beautiful
pen-and- ink drawings do more than complement the writing. They give the story a whole new
dimension that other non-fiction books lack. Overall, I would recommend it for all middle
schoolers but older kids may understand it better. Adults may like it, too.
- Chris, 7th grade, CSCL
El Deafo by Cece Bell
If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?
This is an incredible true story about a girl who is deaf and the struggles she goes through.
If you like this book you should read Smile by Raina Telgemeier or Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
This is an incredibly movie graphic novel that you will not regret reading.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
This is an incredible true story about a girl who is deaf and the struggles she goes through.
If you like this book you should read Smile by Raina Telgemeier or Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
This is an incredibly movie graphic novel that you will not regret reading.
- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School
Monday, August 8, 2016
Being Jazz, my life as a (transgender) teen- Jazz Jennings
This book is really awesome and inspiring. It's about a girl named Jazz who was born in a boy's body. I read a similar book to this one earlier this summer and also loved that one. This book is really interesting because Jazz (formerly named Jaron) is one of America's top 15 most influential teens. She helps speak out for the rights of transgender people and inspires many other people like herself to take control of their situations. Whether its stopping someone from stepping off a building or getting to use the bathroom like a normal person of the gender they identify with, Jazz helps. Another thing that I think is cool is how Jazz met Barack Obama, Bill and Chelsea Clinton, Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah, and many others on her quest to end discrimination of LGBTQ+.
-Shira, 8th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School
-Shira, 8th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School
Thursday, July 7, 2016
El Deafo by Cece Bell
What character(s) in this book would you most and least like to be friends with, and why?
I would want to be friends with Martha the most, she is a kind and reminds me of one of my good friends who has the same grade difference! I would least want to be friends with Ginny because first of all she talks in a way that would make me feel bad about hearing aids if i had any and she is not particularly mean so at the times when she is it might be very hard to tell her without feeling bad. Otherwise I pretty much hated Laura. I was very surprised to find out the author of the book (Cece Bell) is also the main character! And has lived through this( the story)!--Kira, 7th, Vassal Lane
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?
I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about and engulfing themselves in a character's/person's life. I also think that people who like reading about social rights issues and how people react to them and changes in a country's politics will also like reading about a young girl who stood up for education the way she thought was best; by continuing to go to school and speaking up for it.
--8th grade
I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about and engulfing themselves in a character's/person's life. I also think that people who like reading about social rights issues and how people react to them and changes in a country's politics will also like reading about a young girl who stood up for education the way she thought was best; by continuing to go to school and speaking up for it.
--8th grade
Friday, June 24, 2016
Boy By Roald Dahl
If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?
I think if somebody liked this book they should read Going Solo By Roald Dahl because if they enjoyed reading stories about Roald Dahl as a boy they would probably enjoy reading stories about Roald Dahl as an adult.
-Lorenzo, Grade 6, Vassal Lane
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