Kira-kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Kira-kira
Cynthia Kadohata
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
2004

Cynthia Kadohata’s Kira-kira motivated me to be grateful for who and what you have. Katie and Lynn are two sisters that share a very close bond with each other.  Katie and her family are moving down to Georgia because their family Japanese food store went out of business.  Their parents are going to work at a chicken factory and the family must get used to the new arrangement from a small, no-space, apartment in Illinois to a medium-sized house in Georgia. All of the sudden, Lynn is very pale and weak. Lynn is diagnosed with lymphoma and anemia. “‘Katie?’ she said. I almost never fell asleep deeply anymore----as soon as she said my name, I already sat up immediately, no matter how tired I was.  But that night I was completely exhausted. I could barely lift myself out “(Page 181).

Cynthia’s writing has themes of love, family, friendship, and how some families have to deal with a dying child. I enjoyed this book. I related to this book a lot from financial issues, family death, and friend issues. Kira-kira made me smile from ear-to-ear. Highly recommended four-teen and up.

Reviewed by Kaytlin 7th Grade

The Back Door of Midnight by Elizabeth Chandler

The Back Door of Midnight
Elizabeth Chandler
Simon Pulse
2010

Sixteen-year-old Anna is going to visit her uncle Will to discuss family matters over the summer. When she arrives she is shocked to find out that her uncle died in a murder, and her physic aunt is living alone with her and all of the little voices inside her head. When Anna tries to solve the murder she is distracted by love that might be fatal to her. Anna finds out about the murder and what has happened, for the most part, and is on a thin line of death. Anna will be lucky if she survives.

When I was reading the book I could visualize almost everything that happened. “When I glanced up at her, her eyes were darting around the room as if insects were popping out of the kitchen walls and she was trying to count them.” (page 18).I love the figurative language that she used to make the book more interesting, and I felt as if I was a character in the book. I would highly recommend this book for ages 10 and up.  It is an amazing, fun, adventurous book.

Reviewed by Kaylin 7th Grade

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts

Where the Heart Is
Billie Letts
Warner Books
1995

For some people the number seven is lucky but for Novalee Nation, seven is her worse nightmare. When Novalee and her boyfriend Willy Jack are on their way to begin a new life in California, Novalee falls asleep and her flip flop falls through the missing a floor board of the car.  She goes into Wal-Mart to buy new shoes and she knows that something is going to happen when she got $ 7.77 for change.  Willy Jack leaves her at the Wal-Mart, and her “adventure” begins.  Letts, the author, makes two hillbillies fall in love after Benny, a local guy, helps Novalee have her baby in the store. Novalee finds out what love is and how nice and caring people are in a small community and how they all respect each other.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and comedy in one book, also for ages 12 and up.

Reviewed by Alex 7th Grade

Angel by James Patterson

Angel
A Maximum Ride Novel
James Patterson
Little Brown
2011

Maximum Ride, A.K.A Max, is a kick butt character fighting to survive. Paterson’s Angel made me jealous because she isn’t afraid of anything or anyone, except losing her flock, and to top it all off, she can fly!

Max has wings. Before she was born they took the egg and crossed it with some bird DNA. She isn’t the only one who has been crossed with bird DNA. There are five others, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy (also called Gasman for unfortunate reasons), and Angel. They don’t just have wings they have special powers: Max can fly super-fast, Fang can blend in with the tree, Iggy can feel colors, Nudge can attract objects to her, Gazzy can imitate people and sound just like them, and Angel can do lots of things: she can change figures, breathe under water, read minds, send thoughts, and talk to animals.

Before you read this book, I would recommend reading the first seven books.  It is easy to catch up with what’s happening, but read the first seven books, please. It will be easier, and it’ll give you a chance to fall in love with the characters.

Reviewed by Miranda 7th Grade

Slob by Ellen Potter

Slob
Ellen Potter
Philomel Books
2009

A boy named Owen Birnbaum trying to have a good school year, but can’t because there is a bully named Mason.  Later on in the year Owen’s parents get shot, so now they are living with a close friend for right now.  What I like about this book is that you can feel the characters emotions also the author, Potter, makes you feel like you are part of it.  “Even if you see the person who did it, even if the police can find him and catch him in jail, it won’t change things.”  My opinion of the book it is a good book that makes you wonder what is going to happen next.  I highly recommend this for 13 years and up because you can make a connection from a long time ago.

Reviewed by Shoni 7th Grade

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Eldest
Christopher Paolini
Alfred A. Knopf
2005

Eldest is the second book in the series “The Inheritance Cycle.”  The book Eldest keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next as the story switches between Roran and his cousin Eragon.  Eragon learns the way of the elves by a master Dragon Rider.  Eragon is also a Rider, and his dragon’s name is Saphira.  Roran takes leadership as he directs those who survived a terrible battle that destroyed their small village caused them to run away to a faraway land called Surda.

Paolini’s Eldest thrilled me with its constant action.  Because Paolini included his own languages throughout the book, there is a glossary in the back of the book for the three different languages that are spoken!  I highly recommend this book to people who have read the first book, Eragon, and who are either advanced readers and/or are 5th grade and up.

Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow

Saving Zasha
Randi Barrow
Scholastic Press
2011

Randi Barrow’s Saving Zasha mesmerized me with its historical action tale about a German shepherd and a boy who has to save her. It’s a touching story about a connection between a boy and a dog. 13-year-old Mikhail finds a dying man and his dog, Zasha, in the woods. Mikhail and his brother Nikolai have to keep her a secret or else they will kill her. Mikhail and Nikhil are on an adventure to find a lot of hiding places for Zasha so that no one can find out about her.

Barrow uses a lot of descriptive writing in his book but the most specific thing he uses is the way he makes you have a picture in your head like “Zasha turned toward him at the sound of her name. The water boiled in the kettle and mother poured it over the same tea leaves we’d use at breakfast.” This book is for everyone because it’s an adrenalin-rushing, exiting book. I recommend this book to people ages 10 and up because there are some parts that are just overwhelming and mind boggling.

Reviewed by Dustin 7th Grade