Authors and Reading - Kids on the Net

Director Christopher Nolan's Batman saga continues in this compelling sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Batman continues his war against crime, igniting hope in Gotham City and inspiring others, such as district attorney Harvey Dent. Dent is ready to carry on Batman's battle. He is Gotham's new shining hope for a bright new future, not only the city's but also Batman's. Because the masked hero, in fact, is billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, who is battered and exhausted from his nightly exploits, and is hoping to hang up his costume and resume an ordinary life. But then emerges a sadistic, insane, and utterly brilliant new criminal, the Joker, who wants nothing but chaos in Gotham.

I've read the novel for Batman Begins, as well, and was slightly disappointed. O'Neil, the author of the novelization, was a little clumsy with the dialogue and narratives, resulting in awkward sentences and some pointless bits and pieces (Bruce researches Ra's Al Ghul but gains nothing. A waste of time, pages, and ink.). But still, I enjoyed the book. More flesh was added to the movie's original screenplay, and there were delightful little scenes that weren't in the film added to the story (an alternate ending, some extra scenes with Bruce and Alfred, etc.). Fortunately the novel for The Dark Knight has improved on some of the negative points of the first novel.

Firstly, it seems as though the writing, overall, has got better. I don't know whether O'Neil has practiced, got a new editor, or something else, but I'm not complaining. There are no more awkward sentences or lines that detracted from the otherwise fine first book.

Next, the plot. I have to say, The Dark Knight has a much more complex and interesting story compared to Begins. Bruce Wayne has matured, he's in a position of high power, of dangerous power. Now he can't just walk away from what he had started in the first film. But the problem is, he no longer wants to be Batman. Weary from sneaking out every night, fighting criminals, Bruce wants someone else to take over the heroics, and lead a normal life. He sees hope in Harvey Dent, who seems to be perfect in every way. But then the Joker appears. The criminal locks onto Batman and begins to tear him down emotionally. Not only that, he aims to bring down Harvey Dent, and throw Gotham into chaos once more.

The Joker. He's one of the reasons Knight is such a success. Not just because of the late Heath Ledger's fearless portrayal of the character, but because of the character himself. I've never before seen a villain like him before. He's insane, yet makes perfect sense. He says to Batman that the two of them are no different from each other. They both break rules, and in a way, they both brought some amount of chaos to the city. The truth of the line sent chills down my spine. Batman's supposed to be a hero, but he's so similar to his enemy in many ways. It threw some ethical questions into my head. The Dark Knight is a much brainier story than you might suspect it to be.

But the novel version of the excellent movie renders the Joker into a less effective villain, it seems. The character suddenly didn't seem as compelling without being able to see Ledger's performance before my eyes. Matters were made worse by the fact that the Joker, who has half the film to himself, suddenly dominated less than a third of the book. Although I was happy to see more of Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, I have to admit, the Joker is Knight's main show. O'Neil should have realized that.

The book is not without its pros, though. There are, like in the Begins novel, a few extra scenes and pieces that were never mentioned in the movie, such as another great Bruce Wayne/Alfred conversation, ('You seem to feel that this sort of thing will get you killed.' 'This sort of thing will get me killed, sooner or later, if things keep going the way they are.'), more to the Scarecrow's cameo appearance in the film, a brief history on various characters (Harvey Dent, the Chechen, Maroni), and more. Another important point: it's good to be able to read all of the memorable quotes of the movie, the ones that I couldn't quite hear in the theater. Jim Gordon's last line in the movie is a prime example. But readers may have to note that some of the characters' lines are not exactly as same as in the film.

The Dark Knight has a PG-13 rating. I'm still not sure why. It's a very mature movie, for a superhero story, actually, you can't even really call it a superhero film any more. It's more of a crime drama. Very realistic, intense, dark, and menacing, this film is not for kids, unlike what parents used to a campy Batman may have thought. There is quite a lot of violence, graphic injuries, language and some frightening scenes. Children won't even be able to understand the complex story.

The same goes for the book. How different can it be from the movie it's based on? Again, there's language, violence, menace, mention on drugs, crime, etc. Not suitable for kids under, let's say, 10 or 11. If they're any younger - chances are that they will either be scared to death or won't understand a single word of what they've just read.

Overall Dennis O'Neil's The Dark Knight was quite a good novel adaption from the movie. If you want to sit back and relax with the incredible story of TDK in a way that is impossible with to do with the very intense and fast-paced film, the book is for you.
(September 2008)

Satch and Me by Dan Gutman

Travel Through Time with Satch and Me

'I could feel the tingling sensation drown my body, so I knew that I was drifting away, farther and farther into the past...'
Satch and Me, a thrilling historical fiction story by Dan Gutman, about a thirteen year old boy named Joe Stoshack who has the incredible power to travel back through the past with baseball cards- whatever the time on the card is, he can go back to that time and watch how some of our greatest players play the game In this astonishing book, Joe, known as Stosh, and his Little League coach Flip Valentini go back to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1942 to clock the great Satchel Paige's fastest fastball with a radar gun. But what Flip and Stosh encounter is problems with getting to the Negro League World Series (where Satch is playing), trying to clock Satch's fastest pitch, and a beautiful girl named Lovernne keeps running away from home to be with Flip. Her father keeps finding her and threatens to kill Stosh or Flip.
When I read about Satchel Paige's strong attitude and welcoming personality, I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. He ignored every trash talk thrown at him, and then would most likely have a much better game then the person who insulted him. One character, actually, said to him, 'I'm going to shut your big mouth when we meet in Pittsburg!' But that didn't stop Satch, because he struck the guy out on three straight pitches!
At the beginning of the book, Stosh let his baseball team down. When I put myself in his shoes, I noticed that I have let down my soccer team many times before.
When I read Satch and Me, I could not put it down. I really admired the way Gutman never really gives away anything until the end; how he sort of hides it in what seems like useless information.
'Bang! I heard the sound of a gunshot-that was probably aimed at me-but I was already gone. Barely.'
Dan Gutman's hilarious yet joyful endings, baseball filled, and suprising history is a sports-lover's delight. So if there are sports fanatics out there who need a great book to read, read Satch and Me, a stunning historical fiction book by Dan Gutman. Believe me, you won't be disappointed!
(March 2008)

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Do you like cute, fluffy little bunnies? I mean, who doesn't? In Watership Down, you get to be close up and personal with dozens of these furry creatures. But the only thing is, not everything as it seems, as a young rabbit called Fiver senses. His brother, Hazel, ultimately agrees, and the two convince a small band of rabbits to leave their cozy home - a rabbit warren in the countryside. And so begins an epic tale, in which the rabbits embark on a perilous journey to find a place to call home..
When I first saw this book in the Classics section of the bookstore, I was thinking, 'Why in the world is that here?' I bought the book without really thinking, and left in on my bookshelf for a few months. After those few months, I decided to read it, even though it looked dull, childish, and uninteresting. I couldn't have been more wrong. As I am twelve-year-old kid, I thought I grew out of novels and stories in which animals talk and embark on impossibly epic or fantastical quests to other worlds. Watership Down is not that sort of book.
When the story first begins a small group of rabbits, Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig, and Strawberry, to name a few, escape from their home just as humans destroy the warren to build on. The band starts off as nervous, uncertain and weak little creatures that have never been in the outside world. But as the book progresses, these rabbits evolve into confident, brave and strong characters that know what they want and will not stop at anything to get it. It's really great to watch the rabbits grow, both physically and mentally, as they journey through a real countryside world and to their new home. Yes, Adams did base this novel in a real place, probably somewhere in Great Britain. It's cool that such a fantastic tale could take place in a nonfictional location.
I didn't expect this book to be so deep in character and plot. But at the same time it was sometimes too deep, thus too hard to get into, especially in the first few chapters. But once you get in the story, there's no turning back! The intriguing and suspenseful story will get you so caught up in the book that you'll be reading for hours on end. If you don't? Well, that just means youýre a little emotionally dry.
The rabbits of Watership Down have their own special language. This results in words that no one would understand if they just randomly opened the book and started reading. An example of these words is Owlsa. I read another review of Watership Down claimed that the book has a Lapine (rabbit language - Lapin = rabbit in French and probably in Latin as well) glossary as an appendix. My copy of the book did not have this glossary. I couldn't look up any of the Lapine words that I often forgot the meanings of. This was a low point in the book, as confusing rabbit words often distracted from the wonderful story.
It was great how Adams made the rabbits their own culture, as well, they have, as mentioned above, their own language, as well as gods that they believed in, and other special rules and regulations of living as a rabbit. This made the rabbits seem more human than ever sometimes, I felt, more human than people.
What else is so wonderful about Watership Down? Definitely the characters. There were numerous, very colourful characters that were very different from each other, each of them endearing in their own ways. Acorn, for example, is small and weak, but very loyal. Bigwig is a robust warrior, is often bossy, but a great companion and friend. The dangers the friends go through seem to be echoing the perils of our own lives, and teach us lessons in cooperation, loyalty, bravery, and more.
Personally one of my favourite characters were Kehaar, an injured bird that the rabbits found and took in. Kehaar was originally very wary of the rabbits, but later he befriends them and helps them in numerous ways. I loved the bird's funny, but often annoying, accent, and how he so generously helped the rabbits in so many ways. This just teaches us another valuable lesson - friendship, and trust.
One of the very few cons of this book was the violence. Watership Down reveals that, rabbits, no matter how cute they seem, still get into many fights and battles (well, perhaps not as large as the ones portrayed in the book). There are many scenes in which rabbits are scratching, biting, and basically beating each other up. Young children would find this disturbing. They would view the furry little animals in a completely different way after they read this book. Children would also not understand the complicated story or the sometimes very difficult text. That's the bottom line - this book is not for kids, even though it may not seem like it on the outside.
There are many animal stories all around us. Some, we read when we were young - Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, and Puss in Boots, for example, have become very familiar to most of us. When we get a little older we read novels such as Shiloh, Silverwing, or Warriors. But most books with talking animals in them aren't very realistic, absorbing, or deep in character, no matter how entertaining they may be. Such an example is the Warriors series, where you follow the exciting but rather characterless adventures of warrior cats living in the forest. Great for entertainment, but not as heartwarming or great in characterization or plot as Watership Down. Watership Down is one rare book about animals that even adults can enjoy and think about. (February 2008)

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl, the fourteen-year-old teenage criminal mastermind, is back. And this time, he has a rival - twelve-year-old genius, Minerva Paradizo, who has unlocked the secrets of the fairy world, and will stop at nothing to use the People to win a Nobel Prize...
In this latest Artemis Fowl adventure, demons are materializing all over the world, due to the unraveling of a time spell that has kept them in their own dimension for so long. Now the demons are ending up on Earth. If humans were to find out about them, the People (fairies) will be completely exposed. To protect themselves, they have to predict where, and when, the next demon will appear. But the equations required to do so are so complicated, even a great brain like the centaur Foaly can't understand them. But one person can - Artemis Fowl.
So when a confused demon appears in a Sicilian theatre, Artemis is there to meet him. But he isn't alone - Minerva Paradizo is ready with a trap and captures the demon. And so begins another exciting adventure for Artemis - one that will take him and his trusty bodyguard, Butler, and fairy friend, Holly Short, tumbling through time and space like never before.
Artemis Fowl is one exciting sci-fi series that will catch anyone's attention. Cool gadgets, magical beings, thrilling all-out chases, and clever schemes - it's all here. Artemis Fowl is very scientific, as the author describes, in detail, most of the fairies' devices and how they work. For example, the fairies' camouflage device, called cam-foil, is composed of fairy-made multifaceted diamonds that could reflect accurately no matter what the viewing angle was. Confusing, yeah. That's one of the downsides of Artemis Fowl. Some scientific concepts are difficult to understand, resulting in frustration and sometimes giving up of the book. That's what happened when I tried to read Book One when I was younger - I gave up and put the book away on the shelf until many years later, when I discovered the magic of Artemis Fowl.
But the science is also a part of the charm. Detailed explanations of different scientific concepts make the book more believable and interesting. It gives the reader an impression that Colfer did a lot of research for his series. Or maybe he's a genius like Artemis. Who knows?
I liked the conflict between Artemis and Minerva in this book. Artemis's puberty has kicked in like other teens, and he likes Minerva. Only thing is, Minerva's on the brink of destroying the world, and Artemis has to stop her. The Lost Colony features funny dialogue between Artemis and Minerva, some classical (well, maybe not) flirting between the pair, and amused on-lookers such as Artemis's bodyguard Butler.
This book has lots of interesting and colorful characters - teenage genii (plural for 'genius'), a very un-demonlike demon, a gigantic bodyguard, a fairy police, and lots more. One of my favorite characters was No1, a demon who discovers that he's actually a warlock. He's cute, charming, funny, and witty. Great character. An outcast who discovers his true powers - a lesson for all of us. Be nice to the geeks!
I highly recommend the Artemis Fowl series to readers of all ages. May be challenging to younger kids, two thumbs up, nevertheless! (November 2007)

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

This book is a sequel to the bestselling 'Inkheart', in which Meggie Folchart's father Mortimer "Silvertongue" Folchart (or just Mo) reads to life an evil horde of villains from the book Inkheart. Meggie and her father have a magical ability that allows them to bring books to life when they read aloud. Meggie's life was never the same again, as she is dangerously fascinated with the world of Inkheart, which she calls the Inkworld.
In Inkspell, which is a lot darker and mature than its previous book, everyone goes through a lot of changes - especially Mo, who is shot by Mortola, the mother of Inkheart's villain Capricorn, kept in a cave, is dragged away to a tyrant's dungeon, and is forced to make him immortal. Mo was originally a very gentle and caring character, but after Inkspell he becomes more like the robber he is mistaken for - the Bluejay. This is a very interesting turn for the series, and it makes me curious of what's going to happen in the third book, which will probably be called Inkdeath.
As Mo tells Meggie, "Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page." It's so very true. In Inkspell Meggie and Farid plunge into the book, Inkheart, and experience many amazing adventures there (against Mortimer and Resa's wishes.). Meggie's decisions and actions are not entirely believable, but she's still a good character.
Inkspell was a powerful book that showed the powers of words and reading, as well as the story of a familys struggle with evil. Mo, who was my favorite character, was very protective of his family, even though he was mortally wounded himself. Readers can see that both Meggie and her mother Resa feel the same way about each other. Inkspell is a novel that shows the Folchart familyýs love and devotion.
Now for the cons. Inkspell is very long (675 pages) and tends to drag on quite a bit, although it almost always picks up the pace after a few paragraphs. Inkspell is darker, is violent, includes love themes, and is suitable for "ages 8 and up", as it says. This book has depth that can keep an adult thinking throughout their read. Inkspell can be found in the 'young adult' section of the bookstore, and is not recommended for young children.
But even so, Inkspell is a lot deeper in character and much more complex than Inkheart. The characters, such as Dustfinger, Meggie, Farid, Fenoglio, and Mortimer, develop their distinct personalities and change a great deal throughout the course of the book. The storyline's more sophisticated, the setting's more interesting, and overall, Inkspell is a huge improvement compared to Inkheart.
Inkspell is a truly magical book. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages: kid, teen, or even adult. Although it had its cons, Inkspell is a great read all in all. I really hope for a great conclusion to the trilogy.
June 2007

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet

Chasing Vermeer is a book about friendship, art, and mystery. Two of the main characters are sixth-graders named Calder and Petra. At the beginning of the book, they are simply classmates. However, by the end, they are good friends.

Calder and Petra have a teacher named Ms. Hussey, who is not your average teacher. She`s really fun, and since she had no idea what she wanted to teach her kids, she decided to teach them whatever they wanted to learn! Calder and Petra both thought she was very kind.

Calder likes puzzles. He practically breathes patterns, as his grandmother once said. Calder always keeps a set of pentominoes in his pocket. When he needs help figuring out what to do, he pulls out a pentomino and the letter leads him to an answer.

Petra has a messy household. She is embarrased by her brothers and sisters. Lots of kids think she`s weird, and Calder did at the beginning, too.

Calder`s best friend is Tommy. He moved away with his mom and stepfather named Fred. Tommy and Calder write to each other using a pentomino code.

In the beginning three people got letters from a mysterious person. Who were they? Who was the writer? Were they people I already mentioned? Maybe. But I`ll tell you this: it had nothing to do with our two heroes...yet.

As the book goes on, a series of strange events connect: Petra finds a strange book, Calder and Petra become friends, Calder meets Mrs. Sharpe, a
Vermeer painting is stolen, a kid in Tommy`s neighborhood disappears, Petra dreams of the stolen painting...

Calder and Petra continue getting involved in the mystery. There are tons of twists, turns, and red herrings as they get closer to solving the mystery.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a taste for art, mystery, or simply a good book. (Jan 07)

The Skill Of Reading

Time is short so I'll try to be brief as you'll all get bored if I drag on.
I read a book not too long ago. Its length - varying, its plot - well that's anyone's decision. But what makes it different, well it can transfer you away from reality or open your eyes to it, it can stir deep, mysterious emotions or your favourite, familiar ones. It can increase and satisfy our thirst for knowledge or make us ignorant of it. So what is this book I hear you cry, what book or even thing could do that, I'll put you out of your misery this book is - any book you desire on the face of the earth. Yep, books can do all of that and more, which is why I urge you to read any book at hand. Put it this way, children in less developed countries do not want to spend the money they earn on sweets and games but on school fees to learn to read and write. So saying we take reading for granted is a bit of an understatement.
The bottom line of all this is to read, it can be an unknown book or an over hyped one (cough Harry Potter cough) any book can exercise your ability.
I know I was supposed to review a book but the simple skill of reading has become some peoples dream, hobby and life, it's certainly become one of mine.
(July 2006)

From Charlie's Point of View by Richard Scrimger

From Charlie's Point of View is a story about a fourteen-year-old blind boy called Charlie Fairmile. This book will appeal (very much) to readers who enjoy mystery and suspense, as this book has generous amounts of both.

Charlie's adventure begins when he and his best friend, Bernadette, moves to a new school, and Charlie's father is accused of robbing a bank. Even worse, the police are convinced that Charlie's dad is the Stocking Bandit. If Charlie wants to prevent his dad from going to prison, he has to find the real criminal-and fast!

This book has lots of fast-paced action and funny dialogue, and I thought the cover was very interesting. I thought how the main character was blind added a lot to his courage and skill, because it would be hard to believe that a blind teenager had solved a mystery even cops can't solve!

While the main idea of the story was the mystery of the Stocking Bandit, a part of this book also teaches the reader the values of friendship and how much more you could do with friends than by yourself. One of my favorite characters was Lewis Ellief, who was very clumsy, timid and shy, but also played a big role in solving the mystery of the Stocking Bandit.

I think the character I related to the most in this book is Bernadette, who is very tomboyish and gets along well with boys. I think From Charlie's Point of View would make a good movie. I havenýt read very many mysteries, and I was surprised at how much I liked this book.

I enjoyed reading this book-it was very funny and full of action. The style of this book was quite unusual, and I have not read a book like this before. From Charlie's Point of View also taught me what it is like to be blind-I have always wondered about this.

Overall From Charlie's Point of View was a very satisfying read, and I would rate it a 9.5/10. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, action and mystery! (June 2006)

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand

Seabiscuit... Such a strange title for a book, I'll give you 3 chances to guess what it's about. No clue? Okay, it's about a racehorse in 1938. Born unwanted, Seabiscuit was staggering in claiming races until three men, all shattered in their own way found him. Charles Howard, the owner, Tom Smith,trainer and Red Pollard, jockey. Read this amazing true story of a small horse who built his way up to America's history. This is truly a must read, will make you cry. (June 2006)

The Curse of the Blue Figure by John Bellairs

In this story, we meet Johnny Dixon, a jumpy boy of 13 with blond hair and glasses. He doesn't seem like the kind of kid who would get into the kind of adventures that he does, but he faces them with the help of his friends. This book is merely the first in the series of Johnny Dixon's adventures. There is a total of 12, in this order: The Curse of the Blue Figure- The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt- The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull- The Revenge of the Wizard's Ghost- The Eyes of the Killer Robot- The Trolley to Yesterday- The Chessmen of Doom- The Secret of the Underground Room- The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie- The Hand of the Necromancer- The Bell, the Book, and the Spellbinder- The Wrath of the Grinning Ghost.
I guarantee, if you love dark magic, mystery, horror, and non-stop suspense, you'll love the any of the John Bellairs mysteries. They are books that will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you turning the pages. They are for those who are not quite ready for Steven King. Try reading one, and you'll want more. (June 2006)

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

Private Peaceful tells the story of a young private in the First World War as he looks back on his past one night. Thomas, or Tommo as most people call him, lives at home with his mum and 2 brothers; Big Joe and Charlie.

Tommo's life is simple and peaceful, until the day of the horrific logging accident in which Tommo's father is killed. After that day, things just seem to keep getting worse. Tommo has his first day at school and meets a girl named Molly, who he loves, only to have her taken away from him by his brother Charlie, Big Joe goes missing, Molly is kicked out of her home and Charlie is sent off to war. Charlie asks Tommo to look after Molly. Tommo knows he has to prove to everyone that he is not a coward, so even though he is underage, he joins up with Charlie to be sent off to war, not realising what trouble lay ahead. Private Peaceful comes to a shocking and dramatic ending which will change the lives of the Peaceful family.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is not just about war, so don't be put off by the title. I would give this book 10/10, as it made me feel as if I was actually there.
(May 2005)

The REDWALL Series by Brian Jacques

The Redwall Series is a series that currently contains about 16 books. You might have seen or heard of the children's programme on TV. Yes, the children's programme is based on a couple of the books but the books are for older children, teenagers and even an adult or two.
Basically each story has a changing villain but the same good guys generally.
It is set in medieval times though with animals. Good against Evil type stories.
But each different type of animal in this book has their own characteristics. Hares are rather hungry all the time, shrews are argumentative, otters are seafaring, hedgehogs wrestle a lot, Badgers are fearsome and so on.
But the badguys are different. In the latest of his books the Leader "badguy" was a Wolverine. Most of the time it is a wildcat, stoat, weasel, ferret or fox.
The books are based around one place. Redwall Abbey. A place of peace but often under attack. As the abbey creatures consist mostly of peaceful animals they rely on there allies: Skipper of Otter and his crew, The Guosim (Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower), the hares and Badger Lord (or Lady) at Mt. Salamandastron and any other willing creatures.
These books are full of songs, laughter, sadness, riddles and I highly recommend them to everyone.
(February 2005)

Alex Rider series (5 books) by Anthony Horowitz

Before I get into this book review I will give a powerful statement about this book

It was flabbergasting-absolutely spectacular! If you are aged 9-13 I highly recommend you read on.

It all started when a friend was beginning the series. Quickly he progressed and soon several of my friends had heard about the read from him. I didn't know what to expect until I got a sneak preview at his 10th birthday party.

In just a few short pages, I was hooked.

It's about a teenager called Alex Rider who's lost his mum and dad in a plane crash. Suddenly his uncle is killed in a car crash. As Alex goes to the bank company his uncle, Ian, worked in, Alex manages to hack in to his uncle's office, discovering that this was not a bank compony but the headquarters of MI6. Unluckily, by knowing this he is forced into missions and espionage-spywork.

Generously, my friend lended me the first in the growing series: Stormbreaker. And it was amazing-every page full of action, no errors or plot flaws. And the most interesting point is that Anthony puts a great deal of research into every book, ensuring that it seems realistic. So I was kind of studying and reading every night.

I'm a fast but careful reader, so I finished the book in a matter of days. However, I put down Stormbreaker feeling satisfied. In no time I had purchased the next book:Point Blanc. And so it continued every book the same, very good, standard.

For:
Skeleton Key,
Eagle Strike and
Scorpia

His books get a little bigger as they go along, but he doesn't go wild.

Despite the great review, little kiddies be warned, since the books contain some swear words, and a few of those slightly-scary-little-bit-violent chapters.

I give the Alex Rider series a thumbs up, and I hope you'll be off to your local library and straight to the children's fiction aisle, 'cause there'll be five treats waiting to be read.
(January 2005)

Deltora Quest: City of Rats by Emily Rodda

Lief, Barda and Jasmine are on a perilous quest to recapture the seven stolen gems of the magic belt of Deltora: an amethyst, a topaz, a diamond, a ruby, an opal, a lapis lazuli and an emerald. They must trek through dangerous lands and defeat evil monsters in order to collect all seven gems. Right now Lief, Barda and Jasmine are looking for the third gem: the opal. To find the opal they must journey to the forbidden City of the Rats and survive through the many dangers they will encounter there.

As Lief, Barda and Jasmine were walking to The City of the Rats, they get caught in a trap that the eleven children of the evil sorceress Thaegan had sprung. Lief, Barda and Jasmine merely defeats Thaegan's children and continues on their quest. But many other dangers lurk at their heels. When their special steeds, muddlets, unexpectedly leads them to a mysterious village of some sort, they soon get into huge trouble. It turns out that strange beings called Ra-Kacharz live in the village. They have many odd laws that even newcomers from the outside world has to obey. Even when Lief, Barda and Jasmine escape from the Ra-Kacharz village, their dangers aren't over. In the City of the Rats the three companions will encounter a giant snake named Reeah, a swarm of hungry rats and an epic battle. Finding the opal demands lots of courage, knowledge and friendship and Lief, Barda and Jasmine will be lucky to live to tell the tale.

I think this was an incredible book. Emily Rodda is one author who makes her books come alive as you read each word. City of Rats was one book where magic is reality and giant snakes or fire beads are just the beginning. This book will appeal to anyone that's 9 to 13 years of age. I would especially recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Overall I would rate this book FIFTY MILLION STARS out of five.
(November 2004)

The Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Ring,J.R.R. Tolkien

In the lands of Middle-earth, in ancient times, the Elves crafted the Rings of Power for the wisest of each race. Three to the Elves, seven to the Dwarves, and nine to the race of Men, but they were all deceived! In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord, Sauron, crafted a ring, and into this ring, he poured all his cruelty, his malice, his power, and his will to dominate all of Middle-earth.

Orcs were roaming through the lands, killing at will. They did not know mercy, or sadness, only death. A last alliance of Elves and Men, rose together to fight for the free peoples of Middle-earth, but the power of the ring was too great. One by one, they began to fall, and in this moment, Isildur picked up his father's sword, and cut off Sauron's fingers, taking the ring from him. The enemy was defeated, but Isildur passed up the one chance he had at destroying the ring. He allowed it to survive, and surrenderd his life, and the lives of others, and at this moment, the weakness of men, could be seen.

It is now the third age of Middle-earth, and Sauron has awoken. He calls for the ring, and his forces are marching everywhere looking for it, and the only one that can stop him is Frodo Baggins, a sweet, gentle hobbit from the Shire. He is the ring bearer,and along with eight other companions, he is part of the fellowship of the ring,and they have sacrificed their lives to destroy the one ring., and return peace to Middle-earth.

I think this book was absoluteyl awesome! The main characters were Boromir, Strider, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Sam, and Frodo. Although this book is only part one of three, it will capture you as soon as you start reading, and bring you into a world of magic! Every page is so highly detailed, that you feel as if you're right there!
As great as I think this book is, it's not perfect for everyone. It is quite a complex book, and is quite difficult to read.
I don't think there could have been anything else put in this book to make it any better then it already is. There is song, fighting, and those times that make you cry. It's almost inpossible to put down, and it's great for both girls and boys! If you love fantasy, then I'm positive that you'll enjoy this book! To rate it out of 10, I would give it a 10!
March 2004

When Isla Meets Luke Meets Isla, by Rhian Tracey

When Isla meets Luke meets Isla is a romantic story, about two teenagers, Isla and Luke. The story takes place over two years, year 10 and year 11 in school. Each chapter alternates between Isla and Luke telling the story.

I found the book very easy to get into, and easy to read, even though some of the Scottish that Isla talks in can be hard to understand. Its very well written, and has themes that all teenagers can relate to. The two characters, Isla and Luke, have problems that all us teens have; schoolwork, Saturday jobs, parents, siblings and romance, and have a very realistic approach to these.

I thought that the theme of death was approached in such a way that it is realistic, touching, and didnt take over the story completely. We learn more about Isla during this part of the book, and it is very thought provoking.

I would recommend this book to anyone aged 11-14, mainly girls, as I always find it better to read about people older than yourself. Even though sometimes the romance aspect seems to get swept aside, this is a fast-paced, brilliantly written, intriguing story that I would give a well deserved 9/10.

A sequel to this book, Isla and Luke: Make or Break? Is now out.

With thanks to Bloomsbury for providing a copy of the book to review
(Feb 2004)

The Witches by Roald Dahl

What the book is about:
A boy who is transformed into a mouse by a group of witches and tries to poison them back.

What I thought of it:
This book makes you just need to keep reading. Every part of the book seems like one of those 'good parts', so there is no such thing as stopping at the good part. The whole story is funny, daring, and spooky as the witches come into the story. It is amazing how you could actually picture the whole story going on in your head! Roald Dahl certainly gives a lot of useful information if you could picture it in your head! Roald Dahl can be hilarious, scary, and adventurous at the same time.

The book is excellent, and I would recommend it.

My favourite character is the lead witch
because She is as ugly as the ugliest witch alive. She also has the funniest accent, because with every 'R' letter that she says, she sort of rolls it around in her mouth before she actually says it so it becomes 'rrrrrr'. She can also send out destroying sparks out of her eyeballs. (February 2004)

Harry Potter

I will be talking about Harry Potter. The plot of the story is when Harry became champion for Hogwarts. The main characters are Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, Cedric, Ron, and Draco Malfoy. The setting is at Hogwarts which is in England. This is my book review of Harry Potter.

Who are you most like in Harry Potter? I say that I am most like Hermione. I am like her because she turns in all her work and I turn in all my work. Also, she is smart and I am smart. That is why I am like Hermione.

The plot of the story is cool. It is cool because Harry was being teased by the Slytherins. Also, he was going to have to fight a four-headed dragon. Harry was almost killed in the Tri-wizard Tournament. That is why the plot is cool.

The setting was not that cool. I say this because the story takes place in a castle. Also, when they say the time of day, it is usually night time. That is why I think the setting of the story is not that cool.

Overall, I can really identify the character of Harry Potter. I really hope that Harry is okay after the tournament. Also, I hope that Harry and Ron become friends again. If you get a chance, read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Feb 2004)

The Pelzer Review

Winner of the Kids on the Net Smart Reporting Competition, Summer 2003

Have you ever heard of a person named Dave Pelzer? Well, if you havent, you are missing out. He has written 3 fabulous books with his thoughts and memories about his tough child hood. Those great books are called A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. These books are about his younger years when his mother abused him. The first book is about how he got abused and how his family felt about it. The second book is about how he escaped from The Mother and The House. Also, it tells where Dave lived when he was in foster care. Last, but not least, the third book tells how Dave got out of foster care and what he did when he grew up. These interesting books are great ways to learn about warning signs for child abuse and why parents shouldnt do it to their children. You probably want to learn a little more about Dave Pelzers life. First of all, he had a hard life, as you can see. All he wore each day were a torn shirt, raggy pants, and worn out shoes. His mother never fed him and she made him sleep in the basement. During the day he would go to school, come back and start his agonizing jobs. Some of his jobs included washing the dishes, cleaning the bathrooms, and do as The Mother says. If he did not get the assignments done in time, there would be a price to pay. Some the punishments would be sitting on his hands and his head back for hours at a time, getting punched of slapped on the face, cleaning the bathroom with deadly gasses inside (ammonia and Clorox mixed), running to school non-stop, eating bad things, and roller skating in the freezing cold winter with hardly anything on. When The Mother punished Dave, he basically turned off all of his emotions because if he felt the pain everyday, then he would fight back. When the abusing had been constant everyday, Dave didnt want to feel it anymore. So he just turned of his emotions and thought that he was Superman. That was a great way to take his mind of painful things. Dave didnt mind it, but he didnt like it.

There were some moments that Dave didnt like at all, even if he tried to ignore them. Once when his mother was really drunk, she grabbed a knife and wobbled toward Dave. Then she lifted her hand with the knife, and stabbed Dave. He didnt die, but he was badly injured. After 30 minutes of cleaning up the wound, his mother made Dave get up and finish his jobs. This was really tough on Dave. One other thing that Dave hated was when his mother made him drink ammonia. After he gulped it down, his tongue and throat started to burn like crazy. When he looked in the mirror, his tongue looked like it had been chewed up because of the ammonia. Those were really bad times for Dave.

After about 6 or 7 years with living with The Mother, Dave finally escaped. You are probably wondering how he did it. One day when his mother was punishing Dave, she just stopped, opened the door and said, Get out of my house right now you foolish piece of rat!! Never come back here again!! So Dave stepped out of The House and just walked down the street. I am free!, Dave whispered to himself with a cheery tone. That was the day when Dave got away from his mother. He was very proud of himself because he actually made it through all of the rough years with The Mother. That was a really happy day.

There are happy parts and sad parts to all of these three books. That is why I enjoy them; there are things to look forward to and things to get through. After you have read these books, you are probably going to think that I am really happy to have a loving family that cares about me. That is what I thought about after I read these three inspiring books. Also, if you read the back of these books, you will find many interesting facts that may or may not be on the books. One thing that I learned from the back is that Dave Pelzer travels around the world inspiring people with his fabulous books. There are many other fantastic books that Dave has written, but they dont all have to do with this subject.

I hope that you will read these three marvelous books that are all about Dave Pelzers interesting life. (June 2003)

Book review - Frog and Toad

Runner Up in the Kids on the Net Smart Reporting Compeition, Summer 2003

I am writing a review about a book called Frog and Toad.

Once upon a time a frog and a toad were very best friends. They were so close, that they did everything together. They went to rivers and ponds to swim; they ate at the same time and together. They even lived and played in the same house together. One day Toad got sick. Frog had to take really good care of Toad. Then he had no one to play with. He could only read Toad some stories his mom read to him when he was sick. Toad had to lie in bed all day and eat disgusting soup. He hated soup. He felt better one week later and they could play all they wanted but there was one problem. Now Frog was sick! Toad had to do the same thing Toad did.

I recommend this book to really, really good readers. (June 2003)

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The Dark Knight - A Novelization by Dennis O' Neil