Peotone Junior High School Student Reviews

ut an autistic boy.

Black Duck by Angela
"Black Duck" did not capture my interest. The story and characters were okay. However, I personally didn't enjoy the book. I didn't like how the tenses switched from present to past in such an odd way. Whatever the reason, "Black Duck" is not a book I would willingly read again.

Black Storm Comin' by Angela
"Black Storm Comin'" is the courageous tale of Colton Wescott, a mixed race pony express rider. Throughout the book he must battle with nature, racism, and his own personal ghosts. Colton's adventure is a great read. You'll find yourself rooting for this underdog and his horse and enjoying every second of it.

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Angela
I enjoyed Samuel Collier's story told through "Blood on the River" immensely. The journey and adventure you read about in Social Studies comes to life in this novel. The building of the Jamestown colony and turbulence between the new settlers and natives is in your hands as you grip the book. "Blood on the River" was a great historical fiction.

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Dakota
Blood on the River: Jamestown 1607 is a great book. It has plenty of action throughout the book. Elisa Carbone created a story that made you feel as if you were in Jamestown. This book is very good and the details are very specific. I would recommend this book to anyone because this book is great for boys and girls, all ages.

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Angela
"Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters" was a cute book with adventure, humor, and some sadness. Cornelia is an introverted, antisocial girl who is constantly in the shadow of her famous pianist mother. She feels out of place in her own life until she stumbles into the magnificently eccentric world of Virginia Somerset. Through Virginia's stories and friendship Cornelia is finally able to open up and is changed. The end of the book left me a bit sad, but I rejoiced for Cornelia and I learned some new words too.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Angela
"A Drowned Maiden's Hair" was not what I expected. In fact, I'm not sure what I was expecting when I first saw the book. However, as unexpected as it was, I did enjoy the story of Maud Flynn. I found myself drawn into the story, easily becoming angry at Hyacinth, or longing for the sea. This unexpected tale was pleasantly entertaining.

Gossamer by Angela
"Gossamer" seemed like a light read about fairies, and I wasn't really interested, but once I read past the first few pages, it revealed itself to be touching, a bit tragic, and an overall good book. Lois Lowry describes human emotion simply, yet the reaction it evokes is so great that I was teary at the end. I honestly did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. My heart couldn't help but break for John, hope for his mother, and jump for joy as Littlest One saved John from his nightmares.

Hattie Big Sky by Angela
"Hattie Big Sky" is the story of a girl determined to make it on her own on a homestead in Montana. Hattie is an orphan who has been shuffled from relative to relative most her life. When her uncle leaves her his land in Montana, Hattie is bent on making a life. Throughout the story, she makes friends and finds the family she never had. Even though the ending is a letdown for Hattie's homestead, Hattie and the reader aren't disappointed.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Angela
Although primarily made up of pictures, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" tells an intricate story. Brian Selznick does an amazing job of illustrating the escapades of Hugo Cabret and his quest to fix and figure out the secrets of a mysterious automaton. With the help of a book wormish girl and a man with an eye patch, Hugo is able to uncover, not only the secrets of the automaton, but also those of a toy shop owner with a secret past in this fun and intriguing book. 

The Lightning Thief by Angela
I've always found Greek mythology interesting, so "The Lightning Thief" was particularly entertaining. Percy Jackson is the young hero of this tale. Along with his friends, daughter of Athena, Annabeth and the satyr, Grover, Percy fights monsters and outwits gods. His quest to prove himself to his father, Poseidon, and the world is a great adventure and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

The Lightning Thief by Dakota
The Lightning Thief was a great book. The book was suspenseful and kept the reader guessing. Percy is a great character along with Grover and Annabeth. The book made me read more and I couldn't stop. This book is the best book I have ever read. With the suspense, you wont be able to put the book down. I strongly suggest reading this book.

Oh, Rats!: The Story of Rats and People by Angela
I learned a lot from "Oh, Rats!" The subject itself was a bit creepy, but the facts were very interesting. The information was presented in an easy, accessible way. People who enjoy learning about animals, or just learning in general will enjoy this book.

Penny from Heaven by Angela
"Penny From Heaven" is a fun but meaningful book. It takes place during the summer Penny turns twelve, when milk is still delivered to your door and laundry is done by hand. Penny lives with her grandparents and overprotective mother, but she spends much of her time with her deceased father's large Italian family. This book is filled with the quirky love of Penny's family and her growth as she deals with trials and learns to make room in her life for someone new.

Project Mulberry by Angela
"Project Mulberry" is the narrative of Julia Song, a Korean-American who wants to be just plain, old American. Her best friend, Patrick, puts a hold to this when he decides to do a project recommended by Julia's mom for a club. The project is raising silkworms, which in Julia's opinion, is too Korean. In the end, she becomes much more attached to the worms than she ever expected. The book was a bit plain and not one of my favorites, but still enjoyable enough.

Wolf Brother by Angela
From the very first chapter, "Wolf Brother" is an adventure. Torak's father is killed by a demon bear, and the only one's who can stop it from destroying the entire forest are Torak and his faithful wolf companion. A newfound friend, Renn, helps with her quick thinking. Having the book take place during the Stone Age is an interesting and unique concept and I really liked it.