The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin

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


Annabelle Doll is eight, but she has been around for a hundred years. Life in the dollhouse was somewhat boring... until the Funcrafts, another doll family, moved in. This book is full of adventure, friendship, and the risk of being "seen".


-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School

Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly

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 a phenomenal story like no other about a girl (Apple) who has slanted eyes, has a "weird" Filipino nickname, and an embarrassing mother who doesn't completely understand her. Apple is voted third- ugliest girl in her whole school, and her life becomes a horror show. Boys bark at her in the hallways, and her best friend isn't so friendly anymore. When Apple steals $20 from the music teacher Mr. Z in hope of getting a guitar, and then is caught when she is actually trying to put it back, she is suspended from her school for the rest of the day, and her already- bad day gets worst. But two new friends- Heleena and Evan (and kind of Mr. Z)- help her realize that perhaps it is better to stand out then to blend in. This is a story about a girl, her new friends, and the guitar that changed her life. The minor character that I would want to know more about is Heleena- does she have a wonderful singing career when she grows up? If there were a whole book about her, it would be called "Look Down."


-Julie, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

This is an incredible book about a girl who got into a fight with her her best friend, but before she could apologize it was too late. It is a very moving story like no other. I definitely recommend this book!


- Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School

Since you've Been Gone- Morgan Matson

This book was really awesome. I just wish that the author could tell us if Emily, Collins, and Dawn became friends again because in the end of the book that was unclear. I guess its just one of those books that lets you determine the ending.


-Shira, 8th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

The School For Good and Evil

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


This was a wonderful but complex story about two girl's friendship that is definitely fantasy!

The character who I would most want to be friends with is Agatha- she seems really nice, and it must be hard to be friends with Sophie!

The character who I would least want to be friends with is Sophie- she is a snobby jerk who is obsessed with makeup!




-Julia, 6th grade, Cambridge Friends School

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?


This book was hilarious! It has plenty of humor to go along with the more serious aspects of life. This book was a lot like Looking For Alaska.


-7th grade

Dork diaries by Rachel Renee Russell book 8

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


I would mostly be friends with Nikki because then I wouldn't have to be having good touch detention like McKenzie did, And I would least be friends with McKenzie because I wouldn't half to get in trouble so many times like she did. Also I would have a better chance of not getting in trouble so many times/detention.


--Betel, 6th grade, Prospect Hill Academy

The Secret Ingredient by Laura Schaefer

What would you want to see happen to the characters after this book (or the last of the series) ends?


I would like to see the main character Annie take over the Steeping Leaf tea shop so her grandmother could retire and help Annie create more scone recipes for the shop so that they could make more money and expand.


--6th grade

The Teashop girls by Laura Schaefer

If this book were a food/color/song/smell, what would it be and why?


If this book was a color it would probably be a dark black because this book has conflicts and sometimes this book can be kind of stormy like the color black. But the color black can also be gentle.


--6th grade

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder

If you could rewrite one part of the story, what would you change?


I would change the fact that Isabel's(main character) best friend Sophie also enters the baking contest because it gets them both into a lot of drama and conflict with each other especially in the book Sprinkles and Secrets the second book in the series.


--6th grade

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?


I really enjoyed what issues it discussed. It was a good middle level read, and it talked about realistic middle school problems and feelings, which I thought was cool. If you liked this book, then I think you'll like Liar and Spy, which is by the same author.


--7th grade

Mr. Terupt Falls Again

If someone liked this book, what other books should they read?


This was an amazing book. Just as amazing as the first book in the series. If you liked Wonder, you will really enjoy this book.


--7th grade

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

 I know that lately I've been posting about Percy's second series, The Heroes of Olympus, but right now I'm going to go with Percy's starting book: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief.

Percy Jackson at first started out as an ADHD and dyslexic person in class. He was considered trouble, and was in sixth grade. Did I mention he was on his sixth school by now?

It all started when his algebra teacher, Ms. Dodds, decided to become an ugly old bat winged hag. Percy's teacher, Mr. Brunner, threw a pen to Percy that was uncapped and the pen became a sword that vaporized his math teacher.
Then Percy's told that Ms. Dodds never existed.

This crazy start for Percy's life as a hero fuels his first book where he battles a lizard who uses beds to kill people, a gorgon who sells statues, and a Minotaur who abducts his mother.
To "cap it up," Percy is not going to have a normal life as the son of the sea god.


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

You Can't see the Elephants

You can't see the elephants, is a book written by a German, translated into English. I read it (conveniently) in Germany. it is a book about a girl that is sent to the town were her grandparents live. Her father sends her there because he is depressed after her mother dies. All she does when she is there is go to the playground and listen to music. One day a girl comes and asks her if she can listen to with her. The girls brother at the same time is shaking for no apparent reason. She soon finds out that their father is abusing them. She tries to tell her grandparents, but they don't listen, they don't want to listen. So she trys to help them herself. And gets into trouble. And then somer good stuff happens that you will need to read about.


--Selma, 7th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

The Baby Sitter's Club, Claudia and Mean Janine by Raina Telgemeier

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


Mary Anne. I think she is the least satisfied in the baby-Sitters Club team. She has a lot of strict rules such as not staying out longer that 9PM, and her parents are diviorced, so her life is not as satisfying as the others.

I would most likely to be friends with her because he never gives up and tries very hard and is very passionate. I like her character.


--Sarah, 6th grade, Rindge Ave Upper School

Living with Jackie Chan- Jo Knowles

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


This book was awesome. I finished it in less than a day and I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to older people. This book has some themes that aren't really fit for younger children. I think people who are more mature will be more able to handle some of the ideas thrown in this book.


--Shira, 8th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

13 Reasons Why By Jay Asher

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


I really wouldn't recommend this book,I thought it was going to be really good but I was kind of disappointed.It was relatively dull and made the main characters death into a dramatic and mysterious event or even a kind of gross game for everybody who survived her.I know that I'm one of the few people who doesn't like this book but I wouldn't recommend it.


--Ava, 8th grade, Rindge Ave Upper School

Listen, Slowly by: Thanhhà Lại

What character(s) in this book would you most and least like to be friends with, and why?
I'd most likely want to be friends with Bà, Mai's grandmother. She has a lot of stories to tell her granddaughter, and she knows almost everyone in the small village.
I'd least likely want to be friends with Montana. Mai is only her friend for the popularity and to be able to have a friend. Montana chooses to get closer to HIM while Mai is gone, which is cruel, HIM being Mai's crush.
But overall, I love all the characters in this book!

--Lucy, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

The Baby Sitters club vol.4 Mary Anne saves the day, by Raina Telgemeier

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


I personally think Mary Anne saves the day is the BEST book in the Baby Sitters club series. Why? Well first, I like the way how there is a lot of friendship in this book. It is also the main part of the story. This story is basicly about a fight that happens with Claudia, Jamie, and Kristy that are against the one Mary Anne. Mary Anne gets left out while Kristy is jeolous. Mary Anne becomes friends with a new girl, and tells about her friendship. Mary Anne apologizes, and the babysitting meeting goes again, and all four get along together!

My question is, Are there gonna be more series of The Baby Sitters Club, because until now, there are only four. And when would the next one come out?


--7th grade

The Secret Language of Girls, by: Frances O'Roark Dowell

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'd want to know more about Wes. He's a very minor character, but I think he has feelings for Marylin. He got jealous when they where playing spin the bottle at his party, and when Marylin spun it, it landed on his older, cooler brother, Ty.
He then demanded that Marylin kiss him because Ty was not originally a part of the party.
Sounds like he's jealous to me!


--Lucy, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School