we hope you enjoy our book reviews!

We hope you enjoy our book reviews!

From the Fifth Grade Classat

Nichols Middle Schoolin Buffalo, New York

Coaty

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo is a fantasy book about a boy named Charlie. He gets shipped off to boarding school where he learns he has a special talent.

Three reasons to read this book:

1) When I read this book I fell into another world with the story and characters.

2) The book is very suspenseful so you will never get bored reading it.

3) The author, Jenny Nimmo, uses great words and makes the story easy to understand.

Dylan

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a realistic fiction book about an orphan named Hugo. When Hugo’s dad dies during the construction of an automaton, Hugo realizes that it was built for him by his father, or was it?


1) The characters in this book will seem like old friends when you finish reading it.

2) Hugo Cabret has a lot of action making this an exciting book.

3) Readers will also learn information they didn’t know before.

John

The Guardians of Ga’hoole: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky is an adventure fiction book about a young barn owl named Soren. In his adventure to escape an evil orphanage, Soren meets many friends as well as enemies.


1) This story is very detailed allowing the reader to imagine they are in the book’s setting.

2) The author uses creative writing making this an enjoyable story to read.

3) The reader escapes into another world!

Rockwell

Power of Three Warriors: Dark River by Erin Hunter is a great fiction adventure book about three cats. The cats have magical powers which they discover as they are used to help their clan, Thunder Clan.


1) The author, Erin Hunter, includes interesting verbs, adjectives, and similes making his writing enjoyable.

2) The setting is intriguing because cats jump through a forest, swim in a lake, and run over snowy mountains.

3) There are unexpected events throughout the book like a sudden battle or a character thinking of a solution.

Caleb

I read an awesome book called The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan which is about a boy who wants to be a knight. When young Will’s dream of becoming a knight does not come true, he is drafted into the Ranger Corps and finally realizes where he is supposed to be.


1) I love this book because it is very suspenseful and leaves you wondering what will happen next.

2) The genre, fiction fantasy, is great because it makes you escape into another world.

3) The author, John Flanagan, always uses good writing such as similes, but doesn’t use clichés.

Meira

Gates of Gold by Mary Casanova is a historical fiction experience about a French girl named Cecile. When she gets a chance to serve at court, she tries her best to keep her job, but nothing she does seems to have the outcome she expected.


1) Being set in Versailles, France during the 18th century, I learned what life back then was like.

2) I really used my imagination while reading this

book as the descriptive writing made me feel as if I was right there in the story.

3) Since this is set in France, I learned a lot of new

things such as sil vous plait (seel-voo-play) means “please” in French.

Bradley

Doing Time Online by Jan Siebold is a realistic fiction book about a boy in the police station online. As the boy makes new friends and disregards others, he learns about life.


1) This book is stupendous because the characters are very easy to relate to.

2) This story seems like it could really happen to the reader.

3) The book’s ending is creative and

heartwarming.

Tori

Revenge of the Wannabes by Lisa Harrison is a realistic fiction book about a clique of girls who get mad at one member and let another girl in. All sorts of disagreements and fights happen, but you have to read the first two books before reading this one.


1) This book is very realistic and allows the reader to connect to the story.

2) It is easy to follow and understand.

3) The conflicts are interesting and you will not want to put the book down.

Quinn

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling is a fantasy book about a wizard named Harry Potter. Harry Potter goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where a huge event is going to happen.


1) This book is #4 in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, an excellent writer.

2) This book has very good writing because there are interesting words found throughout the story.

3) The setting is very cool and exciting because Harry’s school is a big castle.

Gaby

Holes by Louis Sachar is a fictional story about a teenage boy named Stanley Yelnanats. Stanley finds himself in trouble and chooses going to summer camp over going to jail for his punishment.


1) This story shows many examples of the true meaning of life such as friendship and honesty.

2) There are some really interesting facts about Stanley’s past that can destroy his family’s future.

3) This book has many cliff hangers to make you want to read more and more.

Lena

The Limit by Kristen Landonis an extraordinary science fiction novel with lots of excitement. This book is about a 14 year-old boy named Matt whose parents spent more than their credit card limit.


1) The plot pulls you in immediately when the first chapter begins.

2) Every sentence is more interesting than the last.

3) It takes place in 2098 with creative, new technology.

Michael B.

I love Benjamin Franklinstein by Matthew McElligot, a fantasy fiction book. This book describes Benjamin Franklin as he learns new skills and creates exciting inventions.


1) The author, Matthew McElligot, makes readers laugh by providing humor throughout the book.

2) A twist is put on the inventions made making this book exciting and fun to read.

3) Benjamin Franklinstein includes many adventures in Pittsburg filled with suspense.

Josh

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is a realistic comedy about a boy named Greg. In this book he describes his horribly funny life with words and also pictures.


1) If you like comedy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid will make you laugh.

2) It is in a series of 6 books where the author Jeff Kinney always uses good word choices.

3) It is very detailed so you can imagine almost everything as you read.

Abhi

The 39 Clues: Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a realistic fiction adventure about a boy named Dan and a girl named Amy. They must race their backstabbing relatives around the world on a hunt for ultimate power and battle a hidden enemy who has tried to sabotage their family for the past five hundred years.


1) This book is very action packed!

2) I like this book because it teaches you about places you may not be familiar with.

3) The 39 Clues: Into the Gauntlet is very suspenseful, you will ask what might happen next.

Dorian

Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo is a fantasy adventure about a gifted boy named Charlie Bone. In this book, Charlie and his friends try to rescue their buddy from evil.


1) This book is interesting because there are many settings.

2) This book has unexpected twists throughout it.

3) The characters’ struggles keep the reader intrigued.

Eric

The Secret Zoo by Brain Chick is a fiction fantasy book about Action Scouts. As Megan goes missing, her brother looks for her in the zoo.


1) The main idea is very different in that a zoo has many secrets to it.

2) The author came up with many crazy ideas such as a penguin that could fly and animals that had human intelligence.

3) The idea for the book started my curiosity, but the author’s use of detail developed the story for me.

Jack

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen is a realistic fiction adventure book about a lawn mowing boy named Brian. As Brain makes more money, he buys stock becoming richer and then hires workers to do the job for him.


1) I like this book is because the author, Gary Paulsen, uses good writing throughout this book.

2) Lawn Boy is part of an interesting series.

3) A third reason I like this book is because it is a good length making the story easy to follow.

Mike W.

The 39 Clues and The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis is a historical fiction book about two kids, Dan and Amy. As they go around the world searching for clues to find their prize, they face their evil relatives who try to kill them.


1) One reason I love this story is because it is part of a series and each book connects to the next.

2) This book is laugh out loud funny making it enjoyable to read.

3) This book is very suspenseful because you always wonder what will happen next.

James

Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald is a realistic fiction story about a boy named Stink who helps people everyday. He tries to save 81 guinea pigs with his friends in this book.


1) I really liked Stink because the main character has a huge imagination.

2) The author, Megan McDonald, has great humor throughout the story.

3) This book is really easy to follow and understand.

Maren

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick RiorDan is a fantasy adventure about a demigod named Percy. As Percy, his friends, and his brother are fighting terrible monsters, they learn there is a huge invasion coming from a rock, which turns out to be an entrance to an enormous maze under the whole country!


1) This book has amazing writing because the author uses metaphors, great word choices, and transforms the reader into the book.

2) The book’s title is interesting and really makes sense as to what is going on in the story.

3) The plot sweeps you off your feet and puts you right into the adventure.

Jacob

Page by Tamora Pierce is a historical fiction book about a girl who is training to become a knight. She faces many challenges, including having her maid kidnapped on the day of her big examinations.


1) This book is action packed!

2) This book is very creative and is extremely detailed.

3) Page made me want to read more books in the series.

Charles

39 Clues into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a realistic fiction book about a brotherand sister. They try to find all 39 clues to restore family peace.


1) This book is exciting because there is a lot of chasing going on throughout the story.

2) It is suspenseful because certain famous relatives left traps guarding their clue.

3) This book is creative because it is a great connection between history and what is happening now.

Cate

Seekers: The Quest Begins by Erin Hunter is a fantasy adventure about four bears. They meet up from a treacherous past and are on an adventure to soar to the unknown.


1) I liked this story because it isin a series so I can continue reading the next book.

2) There are very relatable characters in this book.

3) This series has really good word choices making the reader feel like they are in the book’s setting.

Nina

Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barth DeClements is a realistic fiction book about a girl named Jenny. She’s trying to survive that sometimes scary place called 5th grade.


1) It’s a funny, interesting, and exciting book.

2) Each time I finished a chapter, I waited for more, new, interesting characters to come into play.

3) Suspenseful parts are seen throughout this book.

Kristy

Wild Magic written by Tamora Pierce is a fantasy fiction book about a girl named Diane. She goes through many exciting adventures throughout this story.

Three reasons to read this book:1) The author’s realistic writingmakes the reader feel like they are in the story.

2) There is a series of these books so you can read the next one after it.

3) The main character faces many difficult challenges and people throughout the book.

Mimi

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket is a modern fiction book about three orphaned children. In each book of the series they have to go to a new home, but an evil man wants to kill them for their large fortune.

Three reasons to

read this book:

1) It is an amazing, wonderful series of sad books.

2) This book always says exactly how the three children feel and what their surroundings look like, which makes the story feel very realistic.

3) It keeps me wondering what will happen next, and never loses my interest.

Talia

Eggs by Jerry Spinelli is a realistic fiction book about David and Primroses’ adventures. Both of them live tough lives and this story shows the many similarities between them.


1) I liked this book’s setting of modern day in a small town where kids had to be really creative and make their own fun.

2) The characters are well developed which helps the reader connect with them.

3) You feel like you’re are on the train tracks with the characters making it a realistic story.

Ava

Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle is a realistic fiction book about four girls. The girls all become friends and try to fight off two mean girls, Modessa and Quin.


1) This book is realistic fiction, so if you like this genre, try Luv Ya Bunches!

2) Hints of humor are found throughout this story.

3) It is very detailed, giving the reader a mental picture of what is happening.

Andee

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn is a fantasy mystery about a girl named Ali. Ali is at her cottage in Maine, but while she is there, secrets are just waiting to be found out.


1) I like the author, Mary Downing Hahn, and this was my second book ofhers I have read.

2) The main character is a girl and usually the main character is a boy.

3) This book is very suspenseful and keeps you guessing.

Saloni

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a fantasy adventure about a demi god named Percy. While Percy finds out about what he can do, a dangerous quest is thrust on to him, causing him to have the worst time of his life.

Three reasons to

read this book:1) The book is incredible because I really liked how

the author includes history and fantasy fiction mixed together.

2) Also, the book is suspenseful when the reader guesses about the culprit throughout the story.

3) The final reason I like the book is that it is packed with good writing.

Sophie

I read an awesome realistic fiction book called The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: Too Close for Comfort by Anne Mazer about a girl named Abby and her new friend Hannah. They have many wondrous adventures while camping.


1) Anne Mazer is one of my favorite authors and I love her series of The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes.

2) I like that the setting of this book is in the woods.

3) Anne Mazer is so creative with the titles of her books.