Bookworm Buzz

I have been reading so much during the past few weeks, but I just haven't had a chance to get on the computer and review them in Goodreads, sorry!  Today, I am taking forty five minutes to get all caught up.  Some of the books are just right for 4th graders and some are for my older friends, so scroll through the list and see if there is a book that interests you!

Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mrs. Merten has been asking me if I have read this book yet and I can finally tell her yes! I don't know what I was waiting for, and Lulu's adventures will continue in her next book, due out in September. There is so much to discuss about this book, from the characters to the theme. I especially liked the way Viorst converses with the reader as the story unfolds. I liked the three different endings and can't wait to use this book in writer's workshop. I guess Mrs. Richards will have to get me a class set!

View all my reviews Amazing Animals: Sharks by Valerie Bodden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In honor of Shark week on Discovery Channel, I decided to read some non fiction about sharks. This was a new book for me and I loved the photographs and text features (glossary on each page). It is just right for 4th graders and a great way to get excited for Shark Week!

View all my reviews Ivy and Bean: No News Is Good News by Annie Barrows
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love this series, I really do, and I love Annie Barrows, she is a great author and friendly with her readers.  This latest installment in the series isn't my favorite.  Ivy and Bean aren't being nice and they certainly needed to learn a lesson at the end, but I'm not sure that they did.  What type of ending would you have at the end of this book?  Read it and then rewrite the ending!


View all my reviews

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes by Kazu Kibuishi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A collection of short stories edited by Kazu Kibuishi, one of my favorite graphic novelists.  I loved these stories and the theme of each.  If you like graphic novels and are interested in exploring the short story genre, this is a great book to start with.  Just right for 4th graders!

View all my reviews

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mrs. Merten got me started on this series and I can't thank her enough!  Different from the Hunger Games, but still a dystopian novel none the less.  I enjoyed the characters and connected with the mom. If you liked the Hunger Games, you will like this series.  This book is for my middle school and high school friends.

View all my reviews

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, as soon as I was finished with Divergent, I read Insurgent and completed it before Mrs. Merten. The characters continue to evolve and grow in the second book and the twist at the end was just juicy! It will be hard to wait for the third book, but I'm sure it will be worth it. If you can't a chance, download the app for this series onto your SmartPhone-it was cool! This series is for my middle school and high school friends.

View all my reviews Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rafe Katchadorian's adventures continue in this second installment in the series. Make sure you read the first book, or it might be a little difficult to appreciate all of the changes in Rafe as he embarks on his newest adventure.I enjoy reading about Rafe's adventures and always wince at his struggles and choices in friends. Is Middle School really this awful for some students? It is very rewarding to see Rafe grow and change over the course of the book. He is maturing and learning what it is like to grow up. As with the first book, there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, but made the story complete. This book is for parents, and my high school and middle school friends.

View all my reviews Theodore Boone: The Accused by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love series books and this installment in the Theodore Boone collection is as good as it's predecessors. It's important to read the second book in order for this book to make sense. As a parent, it is tough to watch Theodore be the target of someone's evil actions and be helpless to do anything about it. Many of my middle school and high school friends who enjoy a good mystery will be able to make many connections to the plot and characters. I thoroughly enjoy John Grisham's adult novels and he has proven to be an excellent YA author as well. Enjoy!

View all my reviews Earthling! by Mark Fearing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love graphic novels and this one is no exception. Both Luke and I really enjoyed this book. We loved the setting, themes and characters. There were many lessons and connections for 4th graders to make about school, parents, friends, teachers, and how it feels to be left out to name just a few. Mark Fearing does a great job making the science fiction genre accessible and kid friendly while touchy on themes that are important and relevant to children and adolescents. If you haven't tried sci-fi yet, this book would be a great start. Enjoy!

View all my reviews Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year In Stuff by Jennifer L. Holm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Jennifer Holm, Matt Holm and Babymouse, so I was thrilled to see the latest novel from Jennifer Holm. This book was clearly a collaboration between the author and the illustrator, Elicia Castaldi. It was amazing and the photos/illustrations are essential to the story. I kept telling Liv, "You have got to read this." It reminded a great deal of Chopsticks, by Jessica Anthony because of the photos, but the text really enriched the story. Each page is very stimulating visually, and I enjoyed being forced to slow down to take everything in, in order to appreciate the story. There has to be a sequel, there just has to be. What will happen to Ginny in California? This book is for my middle school and high school friends who haven't read a graphic novel in a while and want a story that they relate to in many ways. Just make sure you go slow and ENJOY each page. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

View all my reviews Smile by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What a great graphic novel for my middle school and high school friends. There is so much to relate to here about life; braces, friends, boys, new school, that so many of you will be able to connect with the main character, Raina.As usual, I connected with the mom,but I'm not sure I would have been as clueless about Raina's friends as she was. I wanted Raina to stick up for herself sooner than she did, but when she finally stood her ground, I cheered! If you want to get back into the graphic novel genre, this book would be a great choice. Enjoy!

View all my reviews