Kids Write Reviews

Reviewed by: Soccertap5, Grade 5.
“Peace Out!!”

Title: Flush
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Ages: 10-14
Favorite Character: Noah Underwood

Are you sick and tired of your dad going to jail for the third time? Well, Noah is. Noah is 13 years old living the life of a normal 13 year old kid but he has lots of problems on his hands. Noah has to stop his dad from escaping from jail, then find who the stranger who almost saved his life along, as well as stop this big bully named Bull from bullying him. WOW! That’s a lot of work for a kid.

Now I’m not sure if you have had the feeling of wanting to show someone wrong. Well, that’s how Abbey (Noah’s sister) felt. The night their mom went upstairs to check on them when BAMMMMMMM, she wasn’t there. Everyone got worried they wanted to go seaching for Abbey but their father, Paine Underwood, was stuck on house arrest which did not allow him to leave the house or so one would think.

This book is realistic fiction. I recommend this book for kids ages 10-14 years old. Now, if you think you love this book then please pick it up and read it.

Reviewed by: SoccerStar Gal, Grade 5.
“Hi. I’m SoccerStar Gal. I love playing soccer, tennis and much more! Hope you enjoy the reviews!!!!”

Title: Maniac Magee
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Ages: Grades 4-6
Favorite Character: Maniac Magee

Have you ever felt like running away because you couldn’t take it anymore? Well, that’s what happened to Jeffrey Magee. Jeffrey was three when his parents had an accident. He was in Bridgeport and got moved to Hollidaysburg where his aunt and uncle lived. His aunt and uncle hated each other very much, but since they were strict Catholics they wouldn’t get a divorce. One day Jeffrey had a school play and he couldn’t take it anymore, so he ran away. Jeffrey ran to an unusual town called TwoMills. While he was running, he met many people, and well you have to read the book to find out what the rest of the story is about.

I’ll tell you my favourite part, but you might have a different favourite part when you read it. Mine was when Jeffrey untied the cobbler’s knot. This was my favourite part because I was so interested in what was going to happen next. Then finally he untied the knot, in about five or six hours. I was also surprised because he was the only person to ever successfully untie the knot. This book is also realistic fiction because anyone could feel like running away because they don’t like what’s happening in their house.

I really liked this book because I never knew what was going to happen next. Also, I felt as if I was the main character. This is because when I closed my eyes, I felt as if I was there, as the main character, in the moment.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventurous books. Also, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books where you get to think of what’s going to happen next because Jerry Spinnelli leaves you to sometimes think of what’s going to happen next. Even if you’re not someone who likes adventurous books, or books where you get to think of what’s going to happen next, you could still give it a try, because this is an AMAZING book!!!!!!!!!!

Reviewed by: Evil Myster #17, Grade 5.
” I am a a soccer player and I play for 2 hours a week. I love playing soccer and other sports.”

Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham ~ 1963
Author: Chirstopher Paul Curtis
Ages: 9-16
Favorite Character: Byron and Kenny

When you read this book you will want to jump from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama before the Watsons do, and you might want to be careful not to get hurt on the way. This book was about a family, who have many adventurous accidents. My favourite part of this book was when Kenny almost got sucked into a whirlpool. This was my favourite part of the book because this event seemed really interesting. Kenny and Byron are the main characters, one accident that happens to Byron is that momma almost burns Byron alive! This book was realistic fiction because this book is based on a true story. I loved this book, some parts made me laugh like when Byron’s lip got stuck to the cold, icy mirror. It also made me feel for the characterS like when the church got bombed and Joetta almost died in there. I felt like I was actually in the story witnessing each event. I recommend this book to grades 5 and up who understand civil rights and racism. Trust me, reader, you will love this book.

Reviewed by: Skater #1, Grade 5.
“I am a competitive figure skater and I skate 10 times a week. I am a tired girl. Hope you enjoy the reviews.”

Title: Jakeman
Author: Deborah Ellis
Ages: 7-13
Favorite Character: Shoshona

Have you ever been in a situation where you had no mother or father? Well, Jake and Shoshona were in that kind of situation. They both lived with foster parents but they never liked them. One day they went through a crazy, rollercoaster adventure on a regular school bus. All the kids on the bus had to overcome tons of challenges. Through their long adventure they started to grow and change their feelings. There lives changed and they became new people.

The two main characters are Jake and Shoshona. Jake is very determind, imaginative, and creative. He has always dreamed of becoming a comic book artist. He practices and he becomes perfect. During the adventure he changed. He became more couragous and confident. Shoshona is Jake’s older sister. She is a bit bossy to Jake but still very kind. She is the most loving of the group. She’s always taking care of others like when she cleaned up everybody’s barf on the bus. She has always dreamed of becoming an opera singer. She always practices and hopes to be a professional. Shoshona became more emotional and she started to realize all the things that were happening more clearly.

“Finally, he heard it. The slap-slap noise of flip-flops on the concrete floor. The prisoners were coming.” This was my favourite part of the book because the suspense was incredible! Once I read that part, I really wanted to keep on reading. This book gets emotional at times but it also gets super interesting. This is such an adventurous book. I think kids 7-13 would enjoy the book “Jakeman” because they could relate to many parts. That’s why the book “Jakeman” is so fantastic!!!

Reviewed by: Chikama Chikama Yoyoyo, Grade 5.
“Live life to the fullest and eat lots of pizza.”

Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham ~ 1963
Author: Chirstopher Paul Curtis
Ages: 10+
Favorite Character: Kenny

1963 does that ring a bell? 1963 was one of the darkest moment’s in America’s history. Christopher Paul Curtis’ book, “The Watsons go to Birmingham~ 1963″ tells the story of a black American family’s journey from the north to the deep south, where they were not accepted and heavily discriminated against. Curtis uses the main character Kenny and his family’s experiences to show the differences between the treatments of African-American people in the North and the South during the 1960′s and revealed details and events that sparked the beginning of the American civil rights movement.

Kenny is a small boy who is always getting bullied by his own brother, Byron. By is always being bad. But when his parents get fed up with his bad behaviour they decide to go on a trip down south to Birmingham, Alabama. By is taken down to his Grandma Sands under the threat of having to stay for the entire summer, or even a whole year. Once in Birmingham, Joey whoseKenny’s little sister, goes to church for Sunday school. After Joey leaves for church the family hears a big booooommmm. OHHHHHHHHHHHHH Nooooooooooo Joey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What happens next? Read the book and you will find out.

I have read a lot of books, but by far the “Watson’s Go to Birmingham ~ 1963″ is the best book I have ever read. The way the author wrote the book is phenomenal. I could picture every word that was written. I would recommend this book to ten year olds and up. So if you are ten years old, and love hilarious historical fiction then this is the book for you.