Here you'll find book reviews and comments by Mrs. Wagstaff, the library aides, and any other interested readers at Timberline
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Alchemyst
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Annexed
Annexed by Sharon Dogar is the story made famous by Anne Frank, but from Peter's point of view. This is a fictional story since we don't have a written record of Peter's feelings. Peter's family joined the Franks in hiding during WWII. At the beginning of the story Peter is very sad because he saw his girlfriend Liese and her family being taken right before his family goes into hiding. He misses her and regrets not doing something to stop it from happening. Peter is unhappy about hiding and sulks in his room, however he enjoys being in attic by himself with his cat. At first Anne really bugs him, but later he learns to enjoy her company and really like her. While talking to Anne Peter said, "I like the idea of being responsible for my actions, not the whole race's. Is that so wrong?" This shows how Peter feels about being Jewish during the Holocaust. The Franks, the Van Pels, and Dr. Pfeffer live in hiding for two years and two months before they are captured and sent to the camps.
You would like this book if you enjoyed the story about Anne Frank and want to read the story from a different point of view, or even if you're curious about the Holocaust. I enjoyed reading this story, but I was bothered reading a fictional book about a real person who really didn't live that long ago. We're not really sure what he thought or what he said because he didn't keep a diary like Anne. Sadly I suppose there isn't any family left to prove otherwise.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Gone
Gone is a book about a city in California called Perdido Beach where all the people over fifteen disappear at exactly the same time. The kids there are scared, worried, and have no idea what to do. At times like these there is always some one who steps forward and takes charge. In this case it's a fourteen year old boy named Sam. After a day or two Sam starts to worry about being leader. Kids from Coats, a school for troubled kids, come down from their school to take over. As people and animals start to mutate kids get strange powers and animals go weird, like flying snakes and talking coyotes. But when they find out Caine a boy from Coats is the most powerful he takes over the beach and changes the way it is run. My favorite line in this book is "kill me or let me go" Lana says this to a pack of coyotes that captured her. You would like this book if you like books with lots adventure and mystery.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Titan's Curse
I recently read a book called The Titan's Curse [part of the Percy Jackson series book three]. I have only read 1,2, and 3 but I have come to really have come to like the books. The third book is mainly about Luke trying to bring Kronos back to life. Every student that's from Camp Half Blood that joins Luke and Kronos makes him stronger. Once he gets strong enough he is going to try to take over Olympus. Anybody that's read the Percy Jackson books 1 and 2 will like this one. Favorite quote- "Ever had a flying burrito hit you? Well, it's a deadly projectile, right up there with cannonballs and grenades." Grover
The Lost Hero
Recently I read the book, The Lost Hero. It is a thrilling expansion of the loved Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. It is about a boy named Jason who finds himself sitting on a bus holding hands with a girl, Piper, that he has never met and a boy, Leo, sitting in the next bench laughing. He is then encountered through a series of events that lead to him saving the world. As Hephaestus said "Nothing lasts forever, not even the best machines. And everything can be reused."
Monday, December 6, 2010
I liked this book because it had a lot of suspense. I love books that get you interested it the first page. This book Is very easy to understand because they are real life experiences for teens like us. It is very cool because you never know what the story will end like but you can always have an idea because sometimes it has happened to you. one of my favorite quotes in the book is "Life isn’t about keeping score. It’s not about how many people call you and it’s not about who you’ve dated, are dating or haven’t dated at all……But life is about who you love and who you hurt. It’s about how you feel about yourself. It’s about trust, happiness and compassion. It’s about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love……" It just makes everyone feel good when you hear it because it is so true. i think this book is more for teenagers or pre-teens because it says it right in the title. It is an amazing book and it really helped me. I have talked to a lot of people that have read thins book and they all loved it.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The People of Sparks
If you liked the book or the movie of The city of Ember then you will like this book. I have to say I did like The city of Ember more though. This is a qoute from the book: "They can't stay here," said Mary. "There are too many of them. Where would we put them? How would we feed them?" Pg. 45 paragraph 2 Author: Jeanne Duprau
One day he gets accused for murder when he didn't even do it, but he was found guilty. As a punishment he gets sent to a service project facility with Mrs. Deverill. Here he learns that he is not an ordinary boy but he has very special powers. Mrs Deverill knows about it and is using him for something very bad and involves trying to kill him.
Mrs. Deverill has a creepy slave that Matt picks on and often calls him "one of the slimy pigs that he works with." This is because he takes care of the pigs, and it makes him smell disgusting. He is a very interesting correcter and is just one of the many people in this book you will love reading about. This book is great and I think any body that loves action will two.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Hatchet
HATCHET. by GARY PAULSEN
Hatchet is about a boy named Brian. He is a thirteen year old boy who was traveling to Canada to go to his dad's house, but then the pilot had a heart attack. Brian had to take over the plane. Brian remembers the ride to the airport with his mother and how she tried to talk to him about what had happened. Before he leaves to the plane she gives him a present she has bought him for the trip. It is a hatchet. He then knows he must crash he see a lake and tries to land there, so he could get water if he was staying there long. When he's going down to the lake he flies off course and into the lake he swims to land thinking about why his mother and father are divorced. But he realizes he must get over that to survive. He awakens at early morning in a panic because it seems so dark. He is in pain all over, bruised and cramping with a sharp throb in his head. However, nothing seems shattered or broken or even sprained that badly, bruised. He thinks for a moment about the pilot still strapped in his seat at the bottom of the lake, but his thoughts continue to be disjointed. It takes him an hour or two to adjust to where he is, but he comes vividly awake when the mosquitoes begin to attack. They attack in such masses that his eyes are soon swollen shut, and he can only protect himself with his torn jacket . As the story goes on Brian becomes a man by thinking and surviving by himself and he has learned to forgive.
“If you keep walking back from good luck, he thought, you’ll come to bad luck.”
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The Dead Room
Monday, November 22, 2010
"If I knew where to die I would look at you and not be afraid we would die together. I had no idea that words could be tested, tried" said Coshmoo.
Personally I would not recommend this book, it bounces point of view without warning and is almost just thrown together with very little structure.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
After they arrived at school, they noticed fishy things going on. Constance and Kate always got in trouble, and Reynie and Sticky always got rewarded. Their were workers that acted different.
Later the Benedict Society discovered that the boss of the school had a brain washing machine. Find out what happens in the end!
A quote from the book that I liked was when Kate said, "I've tried to get people to call me Kate the Great Weather Machine! But they never do......"
Friday, November 19, 2010
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Monday, November 15, 2010
The witch of Blackbird Pond.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is an novel about a teenager named Naomi. Naomi (Nomi) who had been adopted after being found in a typewriter case in Russia by people who traveled, wrote books about where they traveled, and took pictures of them.
Nomi, now the co-editor (Her friend Will was the other) of the school newspaper, began to take pictures too for the newspaper and the yearbook. When Will and her were arguing over which one of them needed to go back to the office to get the camera, they decided to settle this with a coin toss. Naomi as heads and Will as tails. Naomi ended up having to go back for it and as she was coming back out of the building she fell down the stairs, hitting her head making her forget everything past 6th grade.
I really thought this book was amazing even though i don't really go for the "it could happen one way or another" type books. But this was a book i couldn't put down. I think if you like ANY kind of book you will like this. I know I did and i didn't think I would.
"Above all mine is a love story. And like most love stories, this one involves chance, gravity, a dash of head trauma. It began with a coin toss. The coin came up tails; I was heads. Had it gone my way, there might not be a story at all. Just a chapter or a sentence in a book whose greater theme had yet to be determined. Maybe this chapter would have had the faintest whisper of love about it, but maybe not. Sometimes a girls needs to lose." The page before "I was"
Granted this may be a love story but its not a mushy gushy "You are my soul mate" story. It's better then a love story...
Monday, November 1, 2010
Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fablehaven
This book is called Fablehaven. In the book two kids named Kendra and Seth are sent to their grandparents house they are told not to go into the woods or the barn. But of course they break the rules. Later on in the book they find out that the property they are staying on is actually a magical preserve. The discover all kinds of new creatures. Then all of the people get caught and Kendra is the only one left. She decides to go in and try to save them. And the rest of the book is for you to find out! In the book Kendra says "I'm scared maybe I should run... but I have to save them". I think all ages of people would like this book, because it's good and for all ages.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Monday, October 25, 2010
Lightning Thief
Lightning Thief is about a boy named Percy Jackson who is a half blood child of the Greek gods. He has lived a troubled life by getting kicked out of 5 schools He's dyslexic, ADHD, never fits in with the other students, and his mother had him with a powerful rich man who vanished into the sea. His only friends are his classics teacher, Mr. Brunner and Grover Underwood who support him from a student that has to do with bullies and monsters. He starts getting that he's a half blood when a teacher reveals herself as a monster and attacks him. After Mr. Brunner gives a pen to him telling him that it is a powerful weapon
Then he is taken to Camp Half Blood where the half god and half human kids go for training. Then he starts finding out that Zeus accuses Poseidon's son Percy and gives fourteen days to Poseidon to return his lightning bolt or Zeus would start a war against his brother.On the way to the camp Sally his mom is attacked by a Minotaur and vanishes before Percy can help her. In the camp Percy becomes friends with Annabeth.But he thinks his mom may be dead and that means she’s in the Underworld so he has to rescue her. He and his friends Annabeth and Grover travel all over to get the pearls which is the only way to get out of the underworld. They travel to find out clues to how to get there. My favorite quote from the book is "If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself." I think this book is good for anyone one who likes action and adventure and mythology.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Child Called "IT"
Monday, October 4, 2010
20,000 Leagues Under the sea
Friday, October 1, 2010
Code of the Claw
Code of the Claw is the last installment of Suzanne Collins series Gregor the Overlander. It takes place in an under ground world full of strange and unique creatures. Gregor is a human in this strange world and part of a old prophesy that requires him to kill The Bane, a colossus white rat, and his followers. Gregor must also break the code of claw (hence the name) in order to save Regalia (one of the last remaining free cities)."Remember even in war there is a time for restraint. a time to hold back your sword."
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Being Sixteen by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
When you turn sixteen your life will suddenly be a lot better? Right? Everyone looks forward to driving and for some dating. Well Juliet was no exception. Juliet has been practicing basketball all summer with her friend Megan. She's really looking forward to playing on the varsity team. Her family arranges a wonderful surprise party for her 16th birthday. All her friends are there and her new "boyfriend" Nate.
For awhile Juliet's sixteenth year is turning out exactly how she planned. She makes the team and goes to Homecoming with Nate, but then things start to change. Juliet and her sister Maddie begin to suspect that their younger sister Carly, a cheerleader, may have an eating disorder. Juliet begins to wonder. "I couldn't help but feel like my life had been turned upside down. It seemed like I was trapped in an alternate universe, while somewhere else things were happening the way they were meant to happen."
If you like religious fiction and wonder what happens to Juliet and Carly read Being Sixteen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Rangers Apprentice
Witch Child
Each year Mrs. Lefler's U.S. History classes read historical fiction novels. I decided I needed to read more of these books. One of the more popular selections for 1st term has been Witch Child by Celia Rees.
Mary has been raised by her grandmother in England. The story begins with her watching the witch trial and execution of her grandmother. A mysterious lady appears who whisks her away and provides means for Mary's escape. Mary joins a religious group traveling to America. Luckily Mary finds a friend in Martha who is a widow. There are a lot of problems on their sea journey and whisperings begin about a witch on board.
The group arrives in Salem and eventually journeys into the wilderness. Mary tries to avoid drawing attention to herself, but she befriends an Indian and enjoys going to the forest to gather herbs and plants for Martha and Jonah, both healers. The preacher's wife talks to Mary one day. She explains that her husband saved her from being exectued as a witch. "I changed. [She explains]. You can do the same!" "What if I can't?" [Mary asks.] "Then the Lord have mercy upon you." Later Mary falls under suspicion when strange events and sightings occur. Will Mary's friends be able to save her or will she be branded as a witch?
This is an interesting novel that will help you understand this time period better. I recommend it to anyone who is curious about the early American era of witch trials.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Series of Unfortunate Events
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are three orphans. Each very talented. Violet is a great inventor. Klaus loves to read. And Sunny the youngest loves to bite things, she also says weird things such as "Yeeka!" Which probably means something along the lines of, "How interesting!" When the Baudelaire's parents died, they left behind a great fortune. A banker named Mr. Poe is in charge of the Baudelaire's troubles, he looks for new guardians for the Baudelaire's. The Baudelaire's find themselves in a dirty, old, smelly, and scary house. Their new guardian was Count Olaf. Count Olaf is an evil man. He made them clean the filthy house, prepare meals. And worst of all, he tried to steal the Baudelaire fortune. The children tried to talk to Mr. Poe about their problems, but who would believe children? Count Olaf is also an actor, he tries to persuade Mr. Poe that he is innocent.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
The best superpower you can have isn't to fly or be invisible, even super strength, its the power to create. Daniel X has this power. This book is about a boy who's parents get killed by an alien when he is three years old and he has to live on his own. Daniel knew what he was meant for ever since he was little, to hunt aliens on Earth.
Before his parents died, they showed him the list of numbered aliens that they needed to kill to keep humans and all the other species on earth alive. This is why they call him an alien hunter. Soon into the book Daniel decides that he needs to go after number 6, a notorious alien that is planning to destroy and repopulate Earth with his own species. While Daniel is in the process of capturing no. 6, he gets captured and is taken to his home planet-"Alpar Nok? I thought, staring at the green-tinged planet. My home?"
Daniel finds his home planet is nearly erased from all it inhabitants and learns that no. 6 is responsible for it. Is there still life on his planet? Will he be able to destroy the notorious no. 6? You will find the answer to these questions and more when you read The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. If you like action, super powers, thriller genres, and fast paced books, you should read this book.
Marley & Me
This book is about a dog that everyone thinks is "The worlds worst dog." John Grogan, the author tells about the experiences that he has with Marley. It is about how the worlds worst dog can bring love and excitement into the home.
Marley is a crazy dog. He screws up everything. He tears things apart, goes poo all over the yard, and eats all the fruit trees. As soon as John and Jenny start their family, it gets even harder with Marley in the house. At one point of the book, they were going to get rid of him, but then they realized how lucky they were to have a good dog just like Marley. Marley is a good dog, a loyal, smart dog, and most of all, a loving dog.
As the years past, Marley got older. Marley would never get tired, until he was around 10yrs old. Marley got older and older, and the family would spend there last few years together. Later on, Marley could hardly make it up the hill. Find out what happens to Marley, read the book.
I think that anyone would like this book. Even if you don't like animals or reading, i promise... you will like this book. Check out this #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER book in the library today.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
This summer I read The Red Pyramid. The Red Pyramid is about a brother and a sister their names are Carter and Sadie. Carter travels around the world with his dad while Sadie stays with her grandparents. The adventure in this book is based around the Egyptian gods and pharaohs, as the story goes on they find out they have powers relating to the blood of the pharaohs. These powers are a good thing and a bad thing as Sadie Kane would say, "there bloody hopeless". If you like historical fiction and adventure you will love this book, I could not put it down.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Bree Tanner is a vampire who was created into a vampire by Riley another vampire, who is the leader of this coven. Bree lives in a basement with all the other vampires in her coven. She is only allowed to go outside at night to hunt. although Diego is part of her coven. Bree meets him for the first time out hunting. She and Diego are a lot alike. They both think the same way. They both stay out of trouble when they are in the basement. After just one night, they become best friends.