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

The Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl

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


The Umbrella Man is a collection of short stories by the famous author, Roald Dahl. These stories are full of laughter, secrets, and surprises. My favorite is The Umbrella Man, a story of a man who uses umbrellas and lies to buy treats. If I could ask Roald Dahl one question, it would be: "Do you prefer writing funny stories, or serious ones?"


-Julia, 6th Grade, Cambridge Friends School

The Collected Tales by Nikolai Gogol

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

This book is a collection of many short stories, so first of all, if you like a book to focus on a single main character, then this book is not for you. It instead is a collection of stories that gives you an insight to the Russian culture, slowly, story by story. I'd recommend it to people who aren't afraid to try something new, and who like characters that can be quite realistic, but also quite unreal at the same time. I particularly liked The Overcoat and The Portrait the best.

-8th grade

The Tales of Beedle The Bard by J.K. Rowling

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?
The Tales of Beedle The Bard is an addition to Harry Potter. These tales are brought up in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, where they read The Tale of The Three Brothers.

I would recommend this book, because it gives lots of insight on what Dumbledore believed (which is in the commentary). This is important because Dumbledore doesn't give much away, and is a very mysterious character. You can access his character traits through the commentary, where he calls himself one of the world's greatest wizards of all time.

Beedle's Tales include a foolish king, a hairy heart, a silver knife, a huge white worm, and people walking endlessly without getting any closer to their goal.

The Tales of Beedle The Bard is a great book, with tales about wizards, witches, and muggles alike. I greatly recommend this book.

The Tales of The Three Brothers is about the Deathly Hallows, including the elder wand, the resurrection stone, and the invisibility cloak.

If you have only read the first book of Harry Potter, then you get the idea what is cloak is when you read The Tales of Beedle The Bard.
- Bruce, Grade 6, Cambridge Street