Star Girl
Jerry Spinelli
Dell Laurel-leaf, 2000
Pages: 186
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Leo is a high school boy. One day a girl named Stargirl moves in, and she is very very different. She sings happy birthday with her ukulele to people during lunch. She cheers for both teams, and does other strange things. At first, her strangeness makes her popular, but when the basketball team starts losing, they blame it on stargirl because she was rooting for both teams. She becomes very unpopular. Meanwhile, Leo has fallen in love with her. He personally feels the repercussions of startgirls unpopularity, and he tries to change her. It fails miserably, and all it achieves is making stargirl feel terrible about herself. She goes back to being herself, which makes Leo terribly mad. Stargirl ends up going to the dance by herself, where people start liking her again for who she is. But then one of the girls, who still doesn't like her, slaps her. Stargirl kisses her on the cheek in return, leaves, and never comes back. Leo ends up devastated.
I would recommend this book to middle-schoolers, especially if they feel like they don't fit in.
I think this book could show kids that it is okay to run away from problems like stargirl does in the end, which would be a problem.
My reaction: I loved this book, except for the ending.
My rating: ****
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Princess on the Glass Hill
The Princess on the Glass Hill (From The Worlds Best Fairy Tales)
(Also read East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Tree Billy Goats Gruff, and The Master-Smith)
By Peter Charles Asbjornsen
Readers Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 5
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
This story is about a poor boy, with two older brothers. Once a year, the boy's family crops get eaten up, and they want to figure out why. So the father sends out the boy's eldest brother, who goes and watches at night, but there is an earthquake and he gets scared and runs away. The next year the father sends the next oldest son, who also gets scared away by an earthquake. The third year, the youngest son goes, and the earthquake does not scare him away. He sees a horse with a bronze suit of armor eating the crops. He captures the horse, and the next year he finds a horse with silver eating the crops. He capture this one also, and the third year he captures a horse with gold armor. A little while later, the king decrees that he is going to put his daughter at the top of a glass hill, and whoever can ride his horse up and get her and the three golden apple she holds will marry her and have half of the kingdom. On the first day no one can ride up the glass hill, but the boy goes and gets the horse with the bronze armor, and rides half-way up the hill. The princess is so impressed that she throws one of the golden apples at him and it rolls into his shoe. The second day he rides the silver horse two-thirds up the hill and then turns around again, and the princess again throws a golden apple at him. The third day he rides the golden horse all the way to the top and gets the third apple. Later he takes all the apples to the king and tell him that he rode to the top. The poor boy gets to marry the princess and owns half the kingdom.
I think that all children would benefit from this book. It shows them that if they are brave and try hard, that they can succeed.
I can't see this book causing any real problem, except that maybe they will start throwing apples :)
My reaction: This story was okay, not my favorite, but not bad either.
My rating: ***
(Also read East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Tree Billy Goats Gruff, and The Master-Smith)
By Peter Charles Asbjornsen
Readers Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 5
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
This story is about a poor boy, with two older brothers. Once a year, the boy's family crops get eaten up, and they want to figure out why. So the father sends out the boy's eldest brother, who goes and watches at night, but there is an earthquake and he gets scared and runs away. The next year the father sends the next oldest son, who also gets scared away by an earthquake. The third year, the youngest son goes, and the earthquake does not scare him away. He sees a horse with a bronze suit of armor eating the crops. He captures the horse, and the next year he finds a horse with silver eating the crops. He capture this one also, and the third year he captures a horse with gold armor. A little while later, the king decrees that he is going to put his daughter at the top of a glass hill, and whoever can ride his horse up and get her and the three golden apple she holds will marry her and have half of the kingdom. On the first day no one can ride up the glass hill, but the boy goes and gets the horse with the bronze armor, and rides half-way up the hill. The princess is so impressed that she throws one of the golden apples at him and it rolls into his shoe. The second day he rides the silver horse two-thirds up the hill and then turns around again, and the princess again throws a golden apple at him. The third day he rides the golden horse all the way to the top and gets the third apple. Later he takes all the apples to the king and tell him that he rode to the top. The poor boy gets to marry the princess and owns half the kingdom.
I think that all children would benefit from this book. It shows them that if they are brave and try hard, that they can succeed.
I can't see this book causing any real problem, except that maybe they will start throwing apples :)
My reaction: This story was okay, not my favorite, but not bad either.
My rating: ***
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Blue Beard
Blue Beard (From The World's Best Fairy Tales)
(Also read Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella)
Charles Perrault
The Readers Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 7
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
Blue Beard is a man with a blue beard. Because of this odd beard, he was considered very ugly. He wanted a girl to be his wife, but she said no, so Blue Beard invited her and her mother and friends to his castle where they played and had fun. After this, the girl agreed to marry him. She enjoyed herself with her new finery. One day Blue Beard had to leave, and he gave his wife all of his keys. He told her she could use all of them but one. Then he left. When he left, his wife became so curious that she went and opened the cupboard that the forbidden key opened. Inside were the corpses of Blue Beards previous wives. She was so scared. When Blue Beard found out, he was going to kill her, but her brothers came just in time and killed Blue Beard. The woman became very rich with Blue Beards money, and found a nice husband.
I would recommend this book to older children and adults.
This book condones disobedience. Children could think that if they do something they were told not to do, that they won't have consequences.
My reaction: This fairy tale was better than some of the others I have read. I liked it.
My rating: ***
(Also read Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella)
Charles Perrault
The Readers Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 7
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
Blue Beard is a man with a blue beard. Because of this odd beard, he was considered very ugly. He wanted a girl to be his wife, but she said no, so Blue Beard invited her and her mother and friends to his castle where they played and had fun. After this, the girl agreed to marry him. She enjoyed herself with her new finery. One day Blue Beard had to leave, and he gave his wife all of his keys. He told her she could use all of them but one. Then he left. When he left, his wife became so curious that she went and opened the cupboard that the forbidden key opened. Inside were the corpses of Blue Beards previous wives. She was so scared. When Blue Beard found out, he was going to kill her, but her brothers came just in time and killed Blue Beard. The woman became very rich with Blue Beards money, and found a nice husband.
I would recommend this book to older children and adults.
This book condones disobedience. Children could think that if they do something they were told not to do, that they won't have consequences.
My reaction: This fairy tale was better than some of the others I have read. I liked it.
My rating: ***
Fairy Ointment
Fairy Ointment
(I also read Tom Tit Tot, The Rose Tree, and Jack and His Golden-Snuff Box)
By Joseph Jacobs
http://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-43.html
Philipp Lenssen, 2003
Pages: 2
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Fairy Tale
One day Dame Goody, who was a nurse and babysitter, was asked by a squinty old man if she would come watch his baby while his wife was ill. She agreed, and he took her to his house. The mother gave the baby to Dame Goody, and told her to put ointment on both of his eyelids when he opened his eyes. She did so, but when no one was looking she put some on her right eye. As soon as she did it, everything around her became much more beautiful, except for the rest of the children and the husband, who looked like imps. The woman told no one, and when the mother was better, Dame Goody went home. A few days later when she was at the market, she saw the man. She went and said hello, and the old man was shocked that she could see him, for she shouldn't have been able to. He asked her which eye she could see him with, and she said the right. Then the old man, poked out her right eye, and she was blind forever.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
After hearing this Tale, children might be tempted to poke out someone's eye, which would definitely be a problem.
My reaction: I didn't really like this tale. The good woman ends up blind for her entire life, with no compensation!
Rating:**
(I also read Tom Tit Tot, The Rose Tree, and Jack and His Golden-Snuff Box)
By Joseph Jacobs
http://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-43.html
Philipp Lenssen, 2003
Pages: 2
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Fairy Tale
One day Dame Goody, who was a nurse and babysitter, was asked by a squinty old man if she would come watch his baby while his wife was ill. She agreed, and he took her to his house. The mother gave the baby to Dame Goody, and told her to put ointment on both of his eyelids when he opened his eyes. She did so, but when no one was looking she put some on her right eye. As soon as she did it, everything around her became much more beautiful, except for the rest of the children and the husband, who looked like imps. The woman told no one, and when the mother was better, Dame Goody went home. A few days later when she was at the market, she saw the man. She went and said hello, and the old man was shocked that she could see him, for she shouldn't have been able to. He asked her which eye she could see him with, and she said the right. Then the old man, poked out her right eye, and she was blind forever.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
After hearing this Tale, children might be tempted to poke out someone's eye, which would definitely be a problem.
My reaction: I didn't really like this tale. The good woman ends up blind for her entire life, with no compensation!
Rating:**
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Dr. Know-It-All
Dr. Know-It-All (From The World's Best Fairy Tales)
(I also read Jorinda and Joringel, One Eye, Two Eyes, and Three Eyes, and Rapunzel)
By the Grimm Brothers
The Reader's Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 8
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
The mian character in this story is a poor, poor peseant. One day, he sees a doctor eating a feast. The poor man wants to become a doctor so that he can be rich and eat fine foods too, so he asks the doctor what he needs to do to become a doctor. The man tells him to sell what little he has and buy some fine clothes and and medicines and a sign that says "Dr. Know-It-All." The poor man does it, and one day a rich noble man comes in. He tells him that if he really knows everything, he can tell him who stole his money. He invites the "doctor" to his house for dinner. When the servant brings out the first course, the doctor says to his wife, "This is the first." The servant thinks the doctor is labeling him as a thief...which he was, along with the other 4 servants. The servants are scared that the doctor knows what they did, so they confess where the gold is. The doctor tells the noble man where the gold is, who in turn makes the doctor rich.
I would recommend this book to any children
This book condones lying and stealing, and could make children think that these things are okay.
My reaction: This book is okay, not as gruesome as some other Grimm books
My rating: ***
(I also read Jorinda and Joringel, One Eye, Two Eyes, and Three Eyes, and Rapunzel)
By the Grimm Brothers
The Reader's Digest Assoc., 1967
Pages: 8
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
The mian character in this story is a poor, poor peseant. One day, he sees a doctor eating a feast. The poor man wants to become a doctor so that he can be rich and eat fine foods too, so he asks the doctor what he needs to do to become a doctor. The man tells him to sell what little he has and buy some fine clothes and and medicines and a sign that says "Dr. Know-It-All." The poor man does it, and one day a rich noble man comes in. He tells him that if he really knows everything, he can tell him who stole his money. He invites the "doctor" to his house for dinner. When the servant brings out the first course, the doctor says to his wife, "This is the first." The servant thinks the doctor is labeling him as a thief...which he was, along with the other 4 servants. The servants are scared that the doctor knows what they did, so they confess where the gold is. The doctor tells the noble man where the gold is, who in turn makes the doctor rich.
I would recommend this book to any children
This book condones lying and stealing, and could make children think that these things are okay.
My reaction: This book is okay, not as gruesome as some other Grimm books
My rating: ***
Monday, February 8, 2010
Icefire
Icefire
Chris D'Lacey
Orchard Books, 2006
Pages: 432
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
In Icefire, David has been living with Liz and Lucy for a while. At the beginning of the story, David names a wishing dragon that Lucy is making. Because he named it, the dragon belongs to him. David makes a wish to know the whereabouts of the last fire tear. As soon as he wishes, "Aunty Gwenoth" shows up at the door. Aunty Gwenoth also wants the fire tear, and for some reason she has something to do with David finding the fire tear. David's prefessor also knows that dragons exist. He teaches David about polar bears, and that they have a lot to do with the fire tear. Throughout the story, David learns that Aunty Gwenoth is actually an evil lady, and he thwarts her plans to create and keep a new dragon. The baby dragon is born, but is given instead to a friend of Davids who has been helping throughout. David needs to go with the teacher to the artic to look for the tear. Aunty Gwenoth, thinking she is helping herself, bespells a publisher to publish David's book on squirrels, with the promise that he will write one on polar bears. So David gets enough money to go to the artic.
I think any fantasy lover would benefit from this book
This book condones cheating on significant others. At one point while Davids girlfriend is gone, he kisses this other girl. Then his girlfriend gets back and there are no consequences and everything works out for the better for David. It is unrealistic.
My reaction: I really enjoyed this book
My rating: ****
Chris D'Lacey
Orchard Books, 2006
Pages: 432
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
In Icefire, David has been living with Liz and Lucy for a while. At the beginning of the story, David names a wishing dragon that Lucy is making. Because he named it, the dragon belongs to him. David makes a wish to know the whereabouts of the last fire tear. As soon as he wishes, "Aunty Gwenoth" shows up at the door. Aunty Gwenoth also wants the fire tear, and for some reason she has something to do with David finding the fire tear. David's prefessor also knows that dragons exist. He teaches David about polar bears, and that they have a lot to do with the fire tear. Throughout the story, David learns that Aunty Gwenoth is actually an evil lady, and he thwarts her plans to create and keep a new dragon. The baby dragon is born, but is given instead to a friend of Davids who has been helping throughout. David needs to go with the teacher to the artic to look for the tear. Aunty Gwenoth, thinking she is helping herself, bespells a publisher to publish David's book on squirrels, with the promise that he will write one on polar bears. So David gets enough money to go to the artic.
I think any fantasy lover would benefit from this book
This book condones cheating on significant others. At one point while Davids girlfriend is gone, he kisses this other girl. Then his girlfriend gets back and there are no consequences and everything works out for the better for David. It is unrealistic.
My reaction: I really enjoyed this book
My rating: ****
The Fire Within
The Fire Within
Chris D'Lacey
Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007
Pages: 352
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
David is a college student, who moves in with Liz, and her daughter Lucy. Liz makes clay dragons for a living, and she gives one to David as a house-warming gift. Lucy realy like squirrels. She wants to save one squirrel whose eye is missing. She convinces David to help. She also convinces David to write a story about it. While writing his story, he sees his dragon, Gadzooks, writing something. David eventually learns that dragons are real and that Liz is putting a little bit of dragon fire in each clay dragon, causing them to come to live. With the help of Gadzooks, David writes his story (BEFORE it happens), and helps save the squirrel.
I would recommend this book to any children, young adults, or adults. I'm 21 and I loved it :)
I don't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I thought this was a god book. It tied reality and fantasy together in a very realistc way
My rating: ****
Chris D'Lacey
Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007
Pages: 352
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
David is a college student, who moves in with Liz, and her daughter Lucy. Liz makes clay dragons for a living, and she gives one to David as a house-warming gift. Lucy realy like squirrels. She wants to save one squirrel whose eye is missing. She convinces David to help. She also convinces David to write a story about it. While writing his story, he sees his dragon, Gadzooks, writing something. David eventually learns that dragons are real and that Liz is putting a little bit of dragon fire in each clay dragon, causing them to come to live. With the help of Gadzooks, David writes his story (BEFORE it happens), and helps save the squirrel.
I would recommend this book to any children, young adults, or adults. I'm 21 and I loved it :)
I don't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I thought this was a god book. It tied reality and fantasy together in a very realistc way
My rating: ****
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