What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt
Genre: SciFi
Review by Andrea Alcaraz, Room 14

The story is about:
     Deep in outer space, in a different galaxy, the Valorim, a species of alien, is being attacked for their most prized possessions which Young Waeglim forges into one powerful necklace and sends it up into space.
     For Tommy's birthday, his grandmother sends him a really "lame" lunch box, in which he find a necklace.  After he puts on the neckalce, he starts gettting magical powers like being able to paint beautifully, and turn inanimate objects to life.  The Valorim come to earth to retrieve the neckalce from Tommy and use its power to defeat the bad guys.

I liked it because: It has lots of adventure, and has two protagonists and the story is from both their points of view.  There are different uses of typography, and it's a very imaginiative and more advanced read.

The Giant Slayer by Iain Lawrence

A girl named Laurie has no friends until she meets Dickie.  But Dickie soon falls ill and must go in an iron lung because he catches polio.  Laurie feels bad so she goes to the hospital, and tells stories about a magical world to Dickie, Chip, Carolyn and some other kids.  The magical stories feel real and they come to feel extremely ral that it is hard to ignore the stories.  Meet the dragon slayer and some of the other fantasy characters.

The reason I liked this book so much was that Iain Lawrence knows how to introduce fantasy into realistic literature.  This book was well written.  And if Iain Lawrence was to write another book.  I would definitely read it.

--Norma

editors note: Lawrence is the author of many books including the High Seas series and Gemini Summer

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Under the Mesquite is a poetry book about a girl named Lupita who is in high school. Her mom had cancer, but the cancer returned. Lupita told her friend Mireya and Mireya told all her friends, including her sister. They make fun of Lupita because she's acting all "white." She tells her dad to go and stay with her mom for three months, while she takes care of her eight younger siblings.

This book is very sad and Lupita and her eight siblings loved their mother. This book is fantastic. It's a fast read and poetry book. Her mother had cancer. Have you ever had a mom with cancer?

-Jessica

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent is about a girl named Beatrice who lives in a city which is divided into five factions: Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite.   During an apititude test, she finds out she's divergent, meaning she has more than one trait.  Divergence is a dangerous thing to be so she must keep it a secret.

This is an adventurous and fun book to read.  It was exciting when she had to go through stages of strength, logic, and mental challenges.  The main character , Beatrice Prior, is courageous because she has to leave her family.  I couldn't stop reading it. I just wanted to know what happened next.  This book is better than The Hunger Games.

--Kristen

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

A girl named MinLi lives on Fruitless Mountain where barely anything grows.  She decides to find the Old Man of the Moon who has the book of fortune, which can answer any question. On her way, deep in the forest she finds a dragon tied up in a river.  The dragon has no name.  At the next village she comes to,  two young twins show her where the Never Ending Mountain is where she will find the Old Man of the Moon.

I enjoyed this book.  It has a lot of adventure and many Chinese Myths that MinLi's father told her.  I love how the book describes feelings and settings making you wonder what it would be like to feel or see that way.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

--Simone

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Review by Andrea Alcaraz and Marcos Contreras

In this adventurous book, two powerful Demigods named Percy and Jason have just regained their memories and must unite the two Demigod training camps and fight off mythological monsters to save the world from the Evil Goddess Gaea who is waking from her sleep and plans to destroy it.  The characters have a lot of complicated emotions and motives, written from the different points of view from each character that will make you scared and excited at the same time. If you like Greek mythology and adventure this is a very good book to read.

"I liked this book because I like Greek Mythology and it is full of adventure. I also think the Heroes of Olympus series is getting better because the author is developing the characters more and more.  He gives you cliff hangers to think about at the end of each book that leaves you wanting more."  -Marcos Contreras, Class 9

"I like this book because it has different points of views of the different characters.  This book is the third in the series and between some of the characters a little romance starts to show.  I think that the series is getting more and more interesting and there's a cliff hanger after each book that leaves you wanting more." -Andrea Alcaraz, Class 14

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff

Sam, an orphan who lives with his Grandpa, finds a newspaper clipping with a picture of him when he was younger.  Because Sam has Dyslexia he cannot read the article.  He meets a girl that he decides will help him and builds a bond with her.

I liked this book because it's a mystery that got you thinking.  It is also very realistic.  Like when Sam has to go to a special class since he has dyslexia.  I liked the ending when you solve the mystery.

---Andrea

Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book, based in the future, is about two old ladies that are in a project called Turnabout, meant for "unaging" and immortality.  Instead of getting one year older, the people in the project get a year younger.  The project goes wrong.  Every year you loose a memory.  Molly and Beth leave the academy.  They have to find a family to live with because they have already "unaged" to 16.

I liked it because it was exciting when they had to find a place to live and the author switches the story between the past and the present.  This is a really good book to read if you like science fiction.

---Andrea

The Fairy Tale Detective Series "Sisters Grimm"

The Sisters Grimm is about two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm.  They find out that their great, great, great, great, great Grandfathers were fairy tale detectives.  They have to carry on the family tradition.  Daphne is excited but Sabrina thinks it is all fake.  Each book is about their detective work and how they come close to defeating the Scarlet Hand.  The Scarlet Hand is a group of evil fairy creatures that want to escape the town and obey a mysterious master---The Scarlet Hand's leader is someone very close to them!  Find Out in the Sister's Grimm series!

We love it because:

It is mysterious, fun and adventurous--Marcos

It is full of fantasy adventure--Dylan C.

Ditto!  --Vy & Joseph

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender Wiggins, a forbidden third child, is living on Earth in the future and is believed to be a genus.  When he is sent to Battle School he is unknowingly expected to save the world.  At school, he proves to be the best fighter and smartest leader despite his young age.  Along the way, he makes a lot of eniemies and realizes fighting doesn't matter because the battles are just a game.  Throughout the war he never wants to hurt anybody and the enimies are really friends.

Ender's Game is an exciting book because it's very unpredictable.  There are many unexpected changes, like when Ender decides not to fight and go on with battles, even though it's against the rules.  In addition, it's funny and adventurous because the people are goofy and there is a lot of action.

--Jennifer

We Dine with Cannibals by C. Alexander London

Celia and Oliver are not the kind of twins that like adventures.  You get to follow them in adventures I bet you've never gone on; plunge down a waterfall; climb down the ruins of Machu Pichu; but most importantly race some explorers to find the lost Library of Alexandria.  I dare you to read it!

This book is filled with adventure and mystery.  If you like adventure, I definitly encourage you to read: An Accidental Adventure: We Dine with Cannibals.  By the way if you really want to read this book, I encourage you to also read the first book in the series: An Accidental Adventure: We are Not Eaten by Yaks.  C Alexander London is an awsome writer.

 ---Norma R.

In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg

Molly, a teenage girl and Charlie, a boy switch houses for the summer with their families.  Molly and Charlie start emailing each other.  They become closer.  At the end they finally meet in LA and kiss.

I liked their relationship and the way they talked to each other.  I think someone else should read it because it is very descriptive.

   ----Mesha

The Hot List

Have you ever felt betrayed by your best friend? In The Hot List there are two best friends whose friendship is threatened by a list. The two best friends started school at Travis Middle School, where they wrote it in the bathroom. Maddie trusted a girl named Nia and told her about the list. The list was revealed to the students and created a problem between Maddie and Sophie. In the book, we see how a list broke up a friendship. What happened to Maddie and Sophie's friendship? Did they become friends again? Read to find out.

I don't really know what happens at the end, so I liked it. I thought it was interesting because they betrayed each other.

-Jessica Arenas

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a very good book with lots of action and adventure.  Min Li leaves her poor village to seek the Old Man of the Moon to change her family's fortune.  Along the way she saves a dragon and meets many people who help her along the way.  I liked the part where two children trick the poisonous green tiger!  This adventurous book is about friendship and trust.
  ---Chloe

Hidden by Helen Frost

This story is told back and forth by both Darra and Wren, who recognize each other during a game at summer camp called drown first. They recognize each other because Darra's father kidnapped Wren by mistake six years ago from a gas station while he was stealing Wren's mom's car. I liked this book because it is a story about friendship and forgiveness.

                 --Kristen

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee  is the third book about McQuarrie Middle School.  Now that Dwight is gone so is the Origami Yoda, but a new character named Chewbacca takes his place.  This time it is Sarahwho operates the Origami.  She says Dwight gave it to her before leaving, but is she lying to get some attention?  Find out and read the book.  When I read the book I just kept laughing. This book is very funny and entertaining.  I recommend it to anyone who likes oragami or star wars or a good laugh.           Jeffrey

The Island of Silence by Lisa McMann

Two brothers named Aaron and Alex Stowe just had a big battle against each other and are recovering both physically and mentally.  Alex is learning more about Artime while Aaron is seeking revenge on Alex because he took away his chances to be important in Quill.  Find out what happens to them!  Read the Island of Silence.

It is full of fantasy and adventure.  I also liked it because it has magic spells.  My favorite is the scatter clips that pin your enemy to the wall.
   -------Marcos