Library challenge

Mrs. Yingling, a librarian friend of mine in Ohio, is hosting a challenge in which she's asking other librarians to answer some questions and post some pics of their libraries. Here's my info.

1. List the number of students in your school and volumes in your collection. 450 6th-8th grade students; 20,737 volumes

2. State the year your library was built and/or refurbished. The building was remodeled and this became the library in 1992 (this space used to be the GYM!)

3. List one BEST feature and one worst feature of your library. The feature I like best is our new inviting, comfy seating area.

4. Tell us one dream you have for your library. One dream I have for my library is for it to be used by classes ALL day EVERY day. Other dreams are expressed in the picture captions below. Oh, that money were limitless!

5. Include a picture(s) if possible. Here are some pics of my library


These are the stairs down into the library. There are lots of great posters on the walls, but I sure wish my library were more central to the school instead of being way down in the dungeon. You really have to want to come here - you don't just stop by.


This is the entryway to our library. I love and adore the old fashioned card catalog,even though we don't use it at all anymore. And I love my rain gutters that my dad helped me hang to display books as the kids walk in. Everyone who sees that loves it. I got the idea from Jim Trelease. Usually it's less messy, but we're gearing up for our big book exchange this week, so those boxes are full of donated books for that! You can see the corner of the student self-checkout station there as well.


Here's our fun new seating area. We got a little grant to buy furniture and got a donated coffee table and bookcase. It's a comfy space for kids to hang out which we never had before. I have the new book section, the Battle of the Books spinner rack, the magazine spinner an the graphic novels all in this area to help draw kids in even more.


This is our study section with enough tables for a full class of students to sit and work or listen to booktalks or whatever. It used to be more crowded, but some serious(ly needed) weeding helped free up a lot of space since I could remove whole shelves. I have Internet, a laptop (old but it works) and a digital projector in this area for teaching.


The fiction section and science textbook storage area. At least they're brightly colored...


These are our computers. I'm grateful to have something in here for kids to use for Internet research and games at lunch, but these computers are old and slow, and I would love to find a stash of money under a rock I could use to buy all new computers in here - enough for a whole class, not just half the kids at a time.


Our Playaway collection which the kids really like and our high lexile books. I separated them out because there are some teachers who require kids to read at their lexile level, and the students with high lexiles were struggling to find books.

Book Exchange Thursday! BRING BOOKS ASAP

Reminder that we're rocking the drop here at WOMS on Thursday - Support Teen Literature Day!

Bring in books you're no longer reading (ask your parents first, please) and exchange them for others!

Bring all donations to the library to get your exchange tickets. We'll do the exchange at lunch!

6th grade Entry - Elephant Run

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alex’s entry. Thanks, Alex!

Elephant Run
Roland Smith
Scholatic Inc.

In 1941 during World War II, the main character of the story, Nick Freestone, is in London. He is living in his mom's apartment while bombs are being dropped by the Japanese. Later he gets shipped off to his dad's plantation in Burma. After Nick's dad leaves the plantation, the Japanese take over, and Nick is forced to be their prisoner. Nick is not just a prisoner, he also has to tend to the plantation and work on the garden. Nick lives in fear of getting hit by a mean guard if he doesn't do the work by the guard's standards.
Nick Freestone is a fourteen year old boy. Before he moves to the plantation, he is a city boy but after he moves to the plantation he learns to work in the outdoors. Nick is forced to grow up quicker so he can survive the hard life on the plantation.
I like this book because it takes place during World War II. I learned about World War II and was able to understand what Roland Smith was talking about. This is a book with lots of action and I love action.
Someone who like history and enjoys reading about war time would be thrilled about this book. This book is also for people who like action and suspense. You also have to make sure to pay attention to details so you don't get lost.


Alex D

WOW! What a lot of great 6th grade entries

6th graders - I'd like to thank you for all the great entries! Sometimes the formatting was lost when I attached the pictures, but I didn't realize that until I'd done several of them. If you had paragraphs in your original posting, and they've disappeared, I apologize. I won't be marking down for lack of paragraphing this time since sometimes it was the computer glitch, not you, and I can't tell the difference.

It was great fun to read about all the different books you read. There was a nice variety of titles. If you're looking for your posting, you may need to scroll down and hit the older posts button because there were so many. Or you can use the archives section on the right hand side of the page. Take a look at some other entries, too. Give your friend a pat on the back (in the comments section) for a job well done. You might even find a new book you're interested in!

Enjoy, and thanks again for participating!

6th Grade Entry - Danial X

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Blake’s entry. Thanks, Blake!

DANIAL X
By: James Patterson

This book is about a bow named Danial. Danial is an alien hunter. In this book his parents where killed by the most deadly alien outlaw. His name is the PRAYER! He is a giant pray mantis with yellow broken glass bottle like teeth. Since then he has been on a hunt for this beast.

Danial is a blonde haired boy who is about 14-16 years and lives on his own. He has this power that can make any one appear with his mind. If he tried he could levitate other people.

My favorite part in the book is the part when Danial uses his level 3 strength and rips apart this big, giant ameba with his BARE HANDS.

He had to travel into the underground sewers of Portland to do it. When he got home there where cops outside his door waiting for him. They where waiting for him because he never went to school! (how awesome would that be!!)

I think that people who love action packed books would love it! Also people who love violence.

submitted by Blake J.

6th Grade Entry Marvin Redpost Alone In His Teachers House

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Keegan’s entry. Thanks, Keegan!

Marvin Repost Alone In His Teachers House
By: Louse Sachar
Publisher in the New York: Random House, 1994 83 Pages

1.) Marvin Redpost gets a job taking care of his teacher’s dog while she’s away on vacation. He’s going to earn three dollars a day, plus a four- dollars bonus if nothing goes wrong. He gets to be alone in Mrs. North’s house “his teacher”. Pretty soon it starts to look like Marvin won’t be getting that bonus after all. In fact, Mrs. North may never talk to Marvin again! Will she or not?

2.) Marvin redpost because, he’s nice, responsible, and loving. Also because he loves to take care of dogs and likes sports. He also a very smart and has red hair like me. Marvin is stupid at times and thinks he is the class clown, (witch he is).

3.) I love this book because it has humor in it and is out going. My favorite part is when Marvin’s best friends Stuart Albright and Nick Tuffle are jealous of Marvin, taking care of their teacher’s dog, “Waldo”. Also because I enjoy the author’s excitement however he does write mystery stories and those are good too.

4.) The person that I would be recommending for this book is someone that the reading level is at about 4th grade. Also someone how likes humor and non fiction books. I think people how like books that deal with school, training a dog, ect. P.S. IT’S A GREAT BOOK

Submitted By: Keegan.O

6th grade entry - Icefire

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Sam’s entry. Thanks, Sam!

Icefire By Chris d` lacey
Watts publishing group.
421 pages.

David is a 21 year old collage student. His family is everything but normal. They have little dragons made out of clay that can get into their imagination and help them. David’s dragon is named Gadzooks. He is a writing dragon (he helps David write stories). Then one day David makes a wish to his step sister’s wishing dragon. He wishes to find out about a thing called a fire tear. The fire tear came from the last living dragon on earth, and posseses great power. But then an evil sibyl (AKA witch) tries to steal it. Now David and his allies have to stop her. Will David succeed? Read this book and find out.

David is very smart. He goes to college and has a job. He is also pretty humorous and kind of wacky. He has a “goth” girlfriend (from his collage). He can think and react realy fast. For example in one chapter he doges a bunch of shots made by the evil sibyl and manages to hurt her a little (even though she is way more powerful than him).

The thing I liked most about this book is that it has nonstop “cliff-hangers” and lots of action. Then there were the character descriptions, they were so good I had a movie going on in my mind, and I could see the characters perfectly. This book is one of the best.

I would recommend this book to both genders and action lovers.

Submitted by Sam O.

6th Grade entry - Coraline

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Renee’s entry. Thanks, Renee!


Coraline by Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins Publisher (2004)
162 Pages in the book Coraline.

Coraline is a book about this girl named "Coraline" and she moves into her new house and discovers a trapped door hidden in her mom’s room. She entered the trapped door and finds out that, the universal world is a whole new place. Now Coraline is trying to get her way out of this different, because her other mother in the trapped door won’t let her out and wants to have a happy family with her but Coraline wants to be with her real parents, not them. And now it is a game to get out.

Coraline is a very brave and strong girl; she is not scared of anyone or anything. Coraline has brown hair and blackish, brownish eyes. But Coraline’s real mother finds her rather boring and never has enough time with her. She is very curious and asks a lot of questions. The grown-ups think she is never serious because of her age. Sure she might make mistakes but she is actually really fun.

My favorite part of the book is when she was on her dad’s back going down the hill and the bees nest got him as he let her down and ran away losing his glasses. I liked that part because it created a picture in my mind and it was a really cool description too

If you like mysteries and you have a feeling like what is going to happen next? I would recommend reading this book because right when you pick up the book you never want to put it down. It is probably one of my favorite books I've read this year and I'd think you would like it too so start Reading.

Submitted by Renee H.

6th Grade entry - Shug

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Yana’s entry. Thanks, Yana!


“Shug” is 248-page long realistic fiction, written by Jenny Han.

This book is about a girl whose real name is Annemarie Wilcox, but nicknamed Shug because she’s sweet as sugar. This story takes place ina small town called Clementon. What happens in this book is reallyabout changing; Shug describes life as she knows it as a twelve-yearold, how everything that was once so simple, is now so complicated.Shug is the girl who never cared about what she was wearing,back-talked to the boys, and didn’t have a care in the world.Everything seemed to have changed in sixth grade, and now Shug is veryself-conscious and positive she is ugly. She’s constantly thinking ofher true love, Mark, and tries to hang out with the cool girls. Elaine, Shug’s best friend has a boyfriend, Hugh, and Shug is very upset that her own friend is already dating. Life is complicated, and Shug falls in lovewith a boy even herself didn’t expect. Shug thinks growing up is hardand horrible, but a with a little persistence, Shug soon discovers thatgrowing up…isn’t so bad after all, and that maybe… she is beautiful. Igave this book a nine, because ever so rarely do I give tens, but thisbook seemed to deserve a nine. It was a great book, because it was sodifferent. Every chapter in the book was like reading Shug’s journal,and I absolutely loved Shug’s personality. Her personality is bubblyand pleasant, and the events in the book are funny and well written.The one thing I would change about this book is how Shug’s mom isn’taround very often, as well as her hard-working dad.. Perhaps relyingmore on her parents could’ve made Shug a little bit less stressed out.Overall, this was an enjoyable quick-read book and I would recommend itto any girl, for it’s about the true teen life.
-Yana G-

6th Grade Entry - Call Me Hope

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Jackie’s entry. Thanks, Jackie!

Call Me Hope
Gretchen Olson
Little, brown and company 272 p.

In the book of Call Me Hope, Hope is very abset because a bully is running eleven- year - old Hope’s life, and she doesn’t know what to do. She can’t even go to here mother for help, because the bully is her mother. To get through all those terrible she has to live her mom, hope develops a special point system. Nasty glare is worse 40 point. Sarcasm is wores thirty-five more points.
Hope is very gentle girl with lots of dreams one of her dreams is to make her mom change by how she is with Hope.

Some of the things I liked the most was when Hope met Anita. Anita was a clerk of a store called. Next to New. I liked this part because even though Anita didn’t really know Hope, she still gave hope an opportunity to believe in her mother!

I as a personal leader, really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to girls that like to read stories that are based on family problems. Because it is sad and touching it ends up with a wonderful ending!
Submitted by Jackie DLT

6th Grade entry - The Shack

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Daniel’s entry. Thanks, Daniel!

The shack
william p.young
windblown media 247pages

This novel takes place in the amarican northwest.
The main character is Mackenzie a father of five called Mack by his family.
Hime and his family were camping at wallowa lake two of his kids are in a
canoe and when it flips it almost drowns Macks son.
Mack is able to save his son by leaving his youngest daughter missy at the campsite.
They realize that missy is missing.They think
she is murderd by a sirial killer.

The main character is missy.Missy is a little girl.She is very bright for her age.
also when she dies she doesnt feel sad she feels happy.
It doesnt really say that much about her but you can still tell what she is like

I really liked this book mostly because it is very spiritual.
It is a good way to think of god.It tells you the difference between right and wrong.
This story even tells you how to forgive and forget.
I also really like this book because you dont have to be christain to read it and enjoy it.

I recommend this book to anybody who is a christain.
also anybody who enjoys a book with heartfelt momments and suspence.

submitted by Daniel O

6th Grade Entry - New Moon

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Nicole’s entry. Thanks, Nicole!

New Moon
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown and Company, 563 p.

After moving to little town Forks, Washington, Isabella Swan meets the beautiful and incredible, vampire Edward Cullen. After their troubles with other vampires in the first book Twilight, Bella must now face the fact that she must forget her love for Edward when he and his family go away. After a few months without him, she must go by her father's rules and go out and spend as much time as possible with her friends. One day when Bella was going home from work she finds two old, beat up motorcycles, and she decides to have them fixed by her father's friends son, Jacob Black. Bella discovers that she has a true friendship with Jacob. And while she is doing things risky with him, she will have hallucinations and hear Edward's voice.

After a few more months with spending time with Jacob, she finds out a secret a few days before Edward returns. Now she must choose between her very good friendship with Jacob, or her love for Edward.

The main character is Isabella Swan, and she goes by Bella. She is always thinking of Edward and can't bare to live without him. She moved to Forks, Washington when she was a senior, to live with her father. She has a mother named Renee, and a step father named Phil. She enjoys spending time with Edward's adopted sister Alice Cullen, and loves to cook dinner for her father. She has friends at her school, that don't talk to her much because they don't enjoy her going out with Edward, but she works at one of her friends parents Sport Shop.

I feel sorry for Bella, because she has to decide whether or not if she wants to keep her love for Edward or her friendship with Jacob, and I think she's going through a hard time and it's hard for her to choose, and then she finds out more and more things, and it could really make it hard for her, and on top of that she's worrying about what her friends think of her, when she's not talking to them. And they give her a hard time at school, and at work.

I was very excited that I got to read New Moon, because it has stories in it that make it seem so real, and that the myths could actually be true and on top of that it has action in it, which was very cool. The author describes the story with SO much detail that it feels like I'm along side with it, like it's a movie, and it's so cool that the books actually do become a movie and it's filmed in Forks, Washington and some here in Oregon. Although I've never been to small town Forks, Washington, I felt like I was actually there along side with Bella and all that's happening.

I would definitely recommend New Moon to people who love to read romance, action, myths all together, and with characters that express them selves, and how they're feeling in one chapter. I would not recommend this book to kids younger then 10 years old to read it for there is some bad language and a too hard of grammar for them. Submitted by Nicole M.

6th Grade entry - Bunnicula

The plot of the book is that Bunnicula is a vampier.Bunnicula is a rabbit that is a vampier.Bunnicula is not your regular vampier,he is not a vampier that dricks your blood but the kind of vampier that drincks the juices out of veggies and drains them of thier color untill they are limp and gray.
My favorite charater in the book is Chester.Chester is the best friend of Bunniclua.He alos has no clue that Bunnicual is a vampier, untill he is one The thing I liked most about the book was that the book is told from the point of veiw of all the charater.It was also funny at times.And I thought it was going to be a very boring book,but I was wrong!I would recommend this book to people who love animals because this book is 90% about animals.

Samantha R.

6th Grade Entry - Ranger’s Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Kobe’s entry. Thanks, Kobe!

Ranger’s Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan
John Flanagan
The Penguin Group

The Rangers keep to themselves. Some say they practice the dark arts, but now Will knows those are rumors and nothing more. Will at first wants to be a knight but his size makes it so he can’t. His curiosity, though, unlocks new doors like the door of the rangers. Will is soon battling monsters beyond compare as he fights the wicked Kalkara which it’s told hundreds of men have fought but all failed.

The main character, Will, has a small problem if he wants to be a battle school apprentice. He is very small for his age, he is smarter than all the other candidates (which is actually a bad thing) and he is curious.

I like the book very much. It’s action packed, a little romance here and there and it leaves it wide open for a sequel.

I think anyone who needs to just read would enjoy this book because it just keeps moving along.

Submitted by Kobie H.

6th Grade Entry - Lush

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Savannah’s entry. Thanks, Savannah!

Title: Lush
Author: Natasha Friend
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

It’s hard to be a thirteen-year old girl. But it’s even harder when your father is a drunk; Samantha is a teenaged girl with a fun personality and a younger brother. She has never told any one her secret before, she went to the library and found she didn’t have any one to talk to about her problem so she started to write secret notes to some quit girl that sits in the corner of the library next to the window, but Samantha later realizes that she is not talking to the quit girl in the corner, but some teenage stranger that works at the library. Samantha finds out that her dad is some what dangerous when her brother takes and unexpected trip to the emergency room.

The main character is Samantha and she is a carful and sweet, brave girl with a fun personality she can’t stand her dad when he is drunk which is most of the time.

What I liked most about the book is probably the way that the author wrote the book I felt like I was there first hand, and it seem as if it is a biography of the person because it tells of her problems and the way she handled them.

I would recommend this book to most people that enjoy fun and at times sad and novels with the author writing in first hand.

Don’t miss the other two books in the series perfect and bounce. enjoy! ☺. Savannah Y

6th Grade Entry - Twilight

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Taylor’s entry. Thanks, Taylor!

Twilight Stephanie Meyer Little, Brown and Company 498 pages Isabella (Bella) Swan has just moved to a small town called Forks, Washington to go and stay with her dad Charlie she went to stay with her dad cause, she didn’t want to travel with her step dad Phil and her mom. Bella wanted to go back home to Phoenix, Arizona cause Forks; Washington was one of the coldest places on Earth. That is what she thought before she met Edward Cullen. Bella knew Edward was hiding something from Bella, Bella could not figure it out so Bella decided to do some research on what she knew about Edward she knew incredibly fast, strong, and had cold skin. Will Bella find out what Edward is hiding from her or not?

Bella Swan is a 17 teen years old she junior in High-School. She has a crazy but loving mom and a step dad Phil is a baseball player. Bella has a great but weird family and she loves everyone in it. She didn’t want to travel with her mom and step dad so she went to stay with her real dad in Forks, Washington witch she didn’t like cause of the cold weather.

I love how the author Stephanie Meyer made the book seem so real. I’m very happy she writes such great books.

I recommend this book for people who like Mystery books people who like that kind of stuff will love this book Twilight.

Submitted by Taylor F.

6th Grade Entry - The Winged Colt of Casa Mia

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Thamara’s entry. Thanks, Thamara!

The Winged Colt of Casa Mia Betsy Byars Richard Cuffar Pg.127 During The Winged colt of Casa Mia, Charles comes to his uncles Coot’s farm for a holiday. His uncle Coot is very quiet so he doesn’t talk to Charles that much. During there ride to uncle Coot’s farm , Charles asks him if he is still doing his job(uncle Coot is a stunts man).His uncle Coot tells him he doesn’t any more because he got in an accident in a movie and that the horse had to be put down .So he doesn’t want that to happen again. So they get to uncle Coots farm. Charles wants to ride him, but Uncle Coot doesn’t want him to yet .Charles says that he studied all about how to ride them. Weeks pass and Charles sneaks into his stalls .He sees a beautiful tan, tall, and young horse sleeping in the stalls. He look at in very closely, it has wings. The horse wakes up and starts to scream. Uncle Coot wakes up and sees him .He get really mad. The next morning Mrs. Minney comes to the farm. She wants a horse for her grandchildren.Mrs.Minney sees the colt .She wants to buy it but Charles and uncle coot don’t want to sell the colt. Uncle coot doesn’t know what to do. He needs the money though. Mrs.Minney gives him a pretty good offer for the colt. Does he sell the beautiful colt or not? I think that Charles was like the main character. Charles is very curious and he likes to go any where he’s not afraid of anything. He wants to try thins that other people don’t want to do. Some parts of the story he was really sad cause he would miss his mom he would cry because his father died and he wasn’t there to say good bye. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Uncle Coot tells all the movies his been in. I like that part of the story because Charles says that he watched every movie and that he knew all the moves his uncle does. One of the movies that his uncle was in is Desert Flame, Thunder in Oklahoma, Bright Glory. There are other movies too but there was a movie were he had a big part in it is called Son of Thunder. I personally recommend this book to people who like to read about horses. The people who also like fantasy books and will one day make something that will help all horses one day .I think that people would like this book because in your mind you can imagine all of these place where it takes place, and if you like adventure you would like it too. Submitted by Thamara M

6th Grade entry - Jack's Run

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Cody’s entry. Thanks, Cody!

Jack’s Run
Roland Smith
Hyperion, 246

Joanne moves to California to pursue her acting and singing career. Her brother Jack has to move in with her because their parents are trying to put Alonzo Aznar in jail. When Joanne sings for American Idol, Alonzo hears her voice on T.V.
Alonzo goes to where Jack, Joanne, and Joanne’s friend lives and kidnap Jack and his sister. They let Joanne’s friend go. Alonzo takes Joanne and her brother to a place where no one knows where they are. He locks them in a room where no one can here them. After a day one of his workers Snake Eyes comes down to kill them. Jack is way ahead of Snake Eyes and has a plan to escape the room.
Jack Osborne is the main character in Jacks Run. He and his family are in the witness security program because his dad was into bad stuff with Alonzo Aznar. He has already busted his family once and they have been relocated twice. Jack’s under cover name is Mack. Jack is, most of the time, the main focus of the book. He is always thinking ahead and is very helpful to his family when they, and even when they don’t, need him.
The thing I liked best about the book is that no one gives up on what they want to accomplish. For an example Jack and Joanne never give up on getting away from Alonzo. Another example is Jack and his sister’s mom and dad never give up on finding Joanne and Jack.
I would recommend this book to my friend Dylan. I would also recommend this book to people who like intense books and attention grabbing adventures. This is definitely one of those “I can’t set it down, mom let me read for fifteen more minutes” book.

Submitted by
Cody W

6th Grade entry - Mystery Isle

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alisa’s entry. Thanks, Alisa!

Mystery Isle Judith St.George Puffin Books 181 pages Twelve-year-old Kimball Ames Lauder did not want to leave New York City to go to Shag Island in Maine for the summer. The huge mansion called The Anchorage, that sits on the island has been in her family for many generations, but she soon finds out that her great grandpa, Lester Arnold Kimball, is selling it. Kim and her mom ready the house to be sold, but when Kim’s mom is called away on business, Kim and her great-grandpa find themselves alone on the huge island. That night, Kim and her great-grandpa see flashing lights, hear strange music, and find an exotic parrot, convincing Kim’s great-grandpa hes going crazy like his father before him. But Kim knew what she saw, and investigates, finding out that they are in great danger.

Kim is very adventurous and for her, curiosity usually overcomes her fear. She is one of those city kids who needs her iPod, television, internet, and the phone to really satisfy her. If she does not have those, she would pick up a book and start reading.

What I liked about this best about this book is how Kim is almost destined to figure out what is going on at The Anchorage. I also love how she is so curious about things, even if it isn’t her business. Her adventurous attitude is exciting and sort of keeps me anxious, waiting to see what happened next.

I recommend this to people who love mystery and suspense. I also recommend this to people who enjoy a little action in their books

Submitted by Alisa D.

6th Grade entry - The Spiderwick Chronicles

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Calvin’s entry. Thanks, Calvin!

The SpiderWick Chronicles
Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster publishing inc.107 pages

The Graces move into a creepy old Victorian house that belongs to their great aunt Lucinda, and Jared Grace is miffed at this. He didn't want to move from New York, where they lived before. Soon they begin to realize there is something going on (the siblings). Mallory's medal goes missing. They bust open a wall finding Mallory's medal on a dumbwaiter. There are many assorted items on the dumbwaiter, and there is a little nest. Jared, being daring goes up the dumbwaiter to an unknown room. In the room there are many books including: A Historie of Scottish Dwarves, A Compendium of Brownie Visits from Around the World, and An Anatomy of Insects and Other Flying Creatures. He sees a message in the dust that wasn't there before: Click, Clack, watch your back. Jared believes this as evidence of something there. Yet another misfortune falls upon Mallory. When she wakes up her hair is in spikes and tied to the headboard of the bed. Their mother immediately suspects Jared.

Later, Jared finds a chest in which there is a book called The Field Guide. It is a book about magical creatures written by Arthur Spiderwick, who lived in the house a long time ago. Jared reads it, and realizes that the creature that causes all the havoc in the house must be a brownie. He tries to set a trap for the creature. Unfortunatly he is caught and he is sent back to bed. In the morning, total hell breaks out. The entire kitchen is a huge mess with everything scattered. The mother, yet again, suspects Jared and instructs him to clean it up. Now, the kids write a letter to the brownie/boggart begging him to stop and to give back Simon's two rats, which he stole. Later, the note disappears. Eventually the Boggart shows up with Simon's rats. He says that the book is not for humans and it brings harm to all who keep it.

The main characters are Jared Grace: A 9 year old, distraught boy. The reason for much of his discontent is his parents' divorce. He is a brother of Mallory Grace and twin of Simon Grace. Simon Grace: A 9 year old calm boy. He has a great fascination with animals and is quite peaceful, unlike his other siblings. He is the first person to believe Jared about the books. Mallory Grace: A 13 year old girl and sister of Jared and Simon Grace. She is also an avid fencer, and fights with her brother, Jared. Helen Grace: The mother of the three siblings. She distruts Jared to some extent.

This book is an interesting read. It's odd to see that the mischievous character (Jared) is the one who finds out this incredible secret. I actually admire the brownie for the fact that he will go to many lengths to protect the book. So, I suppose that Thimbletack is my favorite character. I also like Simon because of his peaceful tendencies and his love for animals. The story is interesting and I think I'm going to read the other books to find out what happens.

Submitted by Calvin G.

6th Grade entry - Operation Stormbreaker

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Dillon’s entry. Thanks, Dillon!

Operation Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz
Penguin Group press, 234 pg.

In Operation Stormbreaker Harylod Sayles is a cruel guy. He has made these storm breakers that are advanced computers that put you in the game virtually. The problem is he is sending them to every school in London . The storm breakers are being injected with poison that will probably kill not thousands but millions of innocent children. All because when Darius was a kid he was picked on and bullied and now he is getting payback. Will he take the lives of millions of children.

Alex Rider is a fourteen year old special operations spy. He has blond hair and is adventurous and brave. He lives in London. He back talks and gets in a lot of trouble. Whenever he is told to do something he pretends not to hear the person talking.

I liked the characters and the way they acted. They were brave and courageous. They don’t listen to their moms and back talk all the time. I especially liked that they stand up for themselves and others. They’re good role models sometimes. Like Alex Rider he is a good role model because he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes and he stands up for people that are getting bullied I think that is what a good role model should be.

I think my friend would enjoy this because we like the same things. Were not afraid to stand up for what we believe in and we both like the same genre of books along with everything else in the world

Submitted by Dillon P.

6th Grade Entry - The Last Lobo

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Andrew’s entry. Thanks, Andrew!

The Last Lobo
By Roland Smith
Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 178 pg.



In the book, The Last Lobo, Jacob Lansa is a boy who travels from Brazil to see his grandfather. When he arrives at the retirement center, he finds his grandfather has moved out and gone to Arizona, the land of the Hopi Indians.

It is there where Jacob’s adventure begins. Jacob and his grandfather, Taw, go out to the Mesa Desert to search for a lobo (a wolf) that is suspected of killing the local farmer’s livestock.

Jacob is faced with many trials and obstacles as he tracks the lobo. If I tell you more, I might spoil the story.

Jacob, is a 15-year-old Hopi Indian boy who travels a lot between his family members. His grandfather, whom he admires, is teaching him history of the Hopi Indians while giving him guidance during the tracking of the lobo. It is through his adventures with the tracking of the lobo that Jacob develops into a young man.

This book really kept my interest because it was constantly changing with the unexpected. I always enjoy a book about wolves and wildlife. I studied the Hopi Indians a few years ago, which made this book even more interesting to me.

I think anyone of any age would enjoy reading this book. It brings to life the struggles of endangered animals and the problem to keep them alive when faced with people and civilization.

Submitted by Andrew T.

6th Grade Entry - Tunnels

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Aaron’s entry. Thanks, Aaron!

Tunnels
Gordon Roderick and Brian Williams
New York: Chicken House/Scholastic, 2008 472p.

Will Burrows is a fourteen year old boy who lives with his sister Rebecca, his mom and his dad in London. Will and his father share a special passion to dig tunnels and search for archaeological artifacts. Will and his father discover an abandoned railway buried beneath the earth and are excited at the thought of a major discovery. Then Will’s father disappears!!! Will and his friend Chester set out to search for Will’s dad. They find themselves in an underground world where danger lurks around every corner. Will learns a secret that may cost him his life. Will Burrows is a fourteen year old boy. He has a pale face and is sunburned easily. He spends his spare time digging underground tunnels with his father and his friend Chester. Unfortunately the book does not describe Will in much detail. I liked the story line and the emotions that you felt while reading this book. It had adventure, suspense, sorrow, and humor. At first it gave me the desire to dig tunnels myself but as I read further into the book the desire grew weaker and weaker. I would not want to possibly stumble upon an underground city like Will encountered. I would recommend anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter, City of Ember or fantasy books to read this book. I also think that boys would enjoy this book more than girls, no offense. It does have a high lexile of 990 which did make it difficult reading but its good practice. Submitted by Aaron N.

6th Grade entry -Twilight

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Jaymie’s entry. Thanks, Jaymie!

Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer
Little,Brown And Company, 498 p.

In the book Twilight, Bella, one of the main characters, moves to Forks, Washington to live with her dad, Charlie. When she gets to Forks she attends Forks High School where she meets a guy named Edward. He doesn't like Bella at first and is very rude to her. Bella doesn't see him for a while but when she sees him, he is a lot nicer to her. Bella starts to hang out with Edward. Edward and Bella go to Edward's family's house so Bella can meet his family. She goes with Edward to a baseball field and helps referee the baseball game with his family. A tracker vampire named James comes and starts tracking Bella. Bella has to leave town.... You will have to read the book Twilight, to find out the end.

The main character Bella is a teenage girl that attends high school. She gets a crush on a guy named Edward. Bella is very nice and is very willing to do things for others. She is skinny and has long brown hair.

The thing I liked most about this book is it doesn't have just one genera. It also has a lot of suspense, I like suspense. I also liked it because you could really feel how the characters felt.

I would recommend this book to people who like romance books with suspense. I would also recommend this book to kids that have a wide range vocabulary.
Submitted By Jaymie B.

6th Grade Entry - Once Upon a Marigold

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Danelle’s entry. Thanks, Danelle!

Once upon a marigold Jean Ferris Scholastic Inc. 266 p. This book is about a troll that found a boy in the woods, and the boy comes and lives with the troll, and as the boy grows up living in a cave, near a castle with five princesses, the boy falls in love with the princess named Marigold. This book is based in the 1930s to 1940s and is a silly, but cute love story. One of the main characters is Edric the troll. He is a very demanding troll and is very strait forward with his words. He is one of the luckiest trolls around because he found a cave that is filled with crystals and every room is filled with bright colors. What I like best about this book is it has three of my favorite things in it. The first thing is the characters. I like how the author puts attitude with the characters because it makes them seem more realistic. They second one is the fantasy the author brings to the story. Anything that is similar to this story I enjoy reading. Then lastly the setting. I like the fact that each room in the cave is a different color. I think people that like fantasy stories would like this book because there is lot of love and action that takes place through out the book. There is so much silly fun that occurs while reading this book, I highly suggest you read it for yourself. You won’t be sorry! Submitted By, Danelle W.

6th Grade Entry - Code Orange

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alyse’s entry. Thanks, Alyse!

Code Orange
Caroline B. Cooney
Laurel-Leaf, 195 p.

Mittey Blake is a rich boy that is in a school for either rich or really smart. He’s in the rich half, Olivia, on the other hand, is extremely smart. Mittey has to do a report on a disease but he can’t figure out what to do. He finds a whole bunch of old books on small pox so he decides to do that. In one of the books he finds small pox scabs. He doesn’t know anything about them so he rubs them
on his face and smells them and everything which was a really bad idea.
Mittey Blake is a rich boy who is in love with Olivia, a girl that falls into the smart category, he is very ignorant. He also really doesn’t like doing homework or more work than necessary.
The person I liked most in the book was Olivia. The reason I liked her most was because she is very intense about her homework and makes sure that it is all one hundred percent perfect. Another reason that I like Olivia is because she is really caring and compassionate.
I recommend this book to kids that can read large books even though it’s not that big the words are very advanced. I also recommend it to almost anyone that likes action.
Submitted by: Alyse R.

6th Grade entry - Dewey

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Kenna’s entry. Thanks, Kenna!

Dewey
Vicki Myron
Grand Central 265pgs.

It was January 18, 1988, one of the coldest nights ever in Spencer, Iowa. The night before had been minus fifteen degrees. It was a “killing freeze” the kind that cut under your coat and squeezed your bones. That is what makes this story even more amazing, you’ll see why. Vicki Myron had just opened the door to her library to start the day. About fifteen minutes later her employee, Jean Hollis walked in. They drank their morning coffee and talked about the harsh weather, that’s when it happened. Librarians find a lot of things in their library drop box like: garbage, rocks, soda cans, well you get the idea. Vicki had just come back from the bathroom when Jean was standing in the middle of the room totally silent.
“Did you here that?” asked Jean.
“No, what did you here?”
“I heard a noise from the drop box.”
That’s when Vicki heard it too. A low rumble from the library drop box. She went over to the box and put her hand inside. She felt something furry and carefully pulled it out. It was a baby kitten. It was a gray, skinny, eight week old kitten.
“The poor baby!”
They got to work right away giving it a warm bath. It turns out it was not gray but just very dirty. The poor, skinny, thing was orange. They named him Dewey Readmore Books. He became a legend. Not just to all of Spencer, Iowa but to Japan, Rhode Island, Mississippi and MANY other states. People from everywhere were coming to see Dewey. He even has a movie coming out about him. But sadly, Dewey passed away in 2006.
Vicki Myron was born on a farm fifteen miles from Spencer, Iowa. At the age of thirty-four, after a failed marriage, single motherhood, and a stint on welfare, she graduated summa cum laude from Mankato State University and has a master’s degree from Emporia State University. She worked at the Spencer Public Library for twenty five years, the last twenty as a director. She lives in Spencer, Iowa.
What I liked about the book is that it’s very descriptive. Vicki Myron has a unique style of writing and I like the way she talks about Dewey being not just a normal cat but about his personality. This book is really cute.
I think animal lovers would love this book. If you’re not a cat lover and you read Dewey I guarantee you will love all types of cats, from Calico to Persian to Dewey.
Submitted by Kenna S.

6th Grade entry - New Moon

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Joelle’s entry. Thanks, Joelle!

New Moon Author: Stephenie Meyer Little Brown and Company, Pages: 563 In the book New Moon, Edward doesn’t want to risk revealing that he’s a vampire so he tells Bella, his love that he needs to move out of Forks. It is almost too much for Eighteen-year-old Bella to bear. After he leaves Bella gets so depressed her dad starts to worry. So he’s trying to send her back with her mom Renee, but she refuses. Then, she finds solace in her friend Jacob Black. She tells her dad she wants to see more of Jacob and she wants to stay with him. The main character in New Moon is probably Edward Cullen. Edward is a handsome, tall, and young vampire that everyone loves. His skin is like marble, very pale, ice cold, and sparkles in the sunlight. He has messy hair that is a bronze shade. His eyes once green now gold. Edward’s appearance changes if he goes long without feeding: eyes darken, almost black, and purple bruises appear beneath his eyes. He is about six feet, has a slender body but also a muscular body. He has amazing strength, speed, endurance, and agility. He is not able to sleep. New Moon is a great book! What I liked most about New Moon is when Alice (Edward’s vampire sister) and Bella go to Italy to rescue Edward because he wanted the vampires (called the volturi) to kill him, because he thought Bella had died. Why I think that is the best part is because Bella gets to see Edward again and neither of them died. Who I would recommend New Moon is to everyone who likes vampire romance stories. Also people who like suspense. Another reason is people who like Stephenie Meyer the author. Submitted by Joelle R.

6th Grade Entry - New Moon

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Summer’s entry. Thanks, Summer!

New Moon Stephine Meyer Little Brown Company pg563 In the book New Moon, Edward Cullen and his family left Forks, Washington and Bella. As Bella and Edward stop seeing each other, she started a relationship with Jacob Black. Jacob goes to a school out of the town Forks. Ever since Edward and Bella stopped seeing each other, Bella’s been despondent and pitiful. Charlie, Bella’s dad has been worried about her and has decided to send her back to Phoenix with her mom. Bella wants to stay in Forks to see Jacob. Edward is the main character in the book New Moon. Edward is a beautiful boy but he is very hard to read. Edward is 17 and has been alive for a long time, because he is an immortal and will never die. Edward is tall and handsome with mysterious eyes. Edward likes the taste of Bella’s blood. Even though he craves her blood, he controls his thirst. My favorite part is when Jacob and Bella are in the mansion, and they are waiting for night to come. Bella says, “don’t give in, he will just leave”. I love that part because it’s so strong and romantic. I fell in love with the scene of the volterra mansion. It’s a unique and old building. I recommend this book to everybody who likes adventurous, nail biting books. I have only read Twilight and New Moon and am looking to Eclipses and Breaking Dawn. This is a fabulous book with amazing word choice. I love this book. Submitted by Summer B

6th Grade Entry - Three Cups of Tea

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Isaac’s entry. Thanks, Isaac!

Three Cups of Tea Author: Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin Publisher: Penguin Group 209 pages Greg Mortenson set out on an attempt to climb the world’s second largest peak K2. During that failed attempt Greg got lost on the way down and ended up in a small village called Korphe. Haji Ali the village leader took in Greg and let him recuperate in his village. On the 3rd day Greg requested to see the school they had, Haji Ali hesitated but then let Greg see. When he saw all the children (mostly boys) in the cold dirt doing their multiplication lessons without a teacher he was shocked. That day Greg left and made a promise to Haji Ali that he would come back to Korphe and build them a real school. When Greg went back to America he figured out that building schools for villages like Korphe could be a successful life. The first question he asked himself was ‘how am I going to get the money.’ He sent out five-hundred eighty letters to famous people requesting donations. While he was waiting for responses his mother asked about his project. After hearing his story the students started a fundraiser called Pennies for Pakistan, they raised 62,345 pennies. In his campaign of sending letters he only received one back from Tom Brokaw which had five-hundred dollars in it. Later on Greg was introduced to Jean Hoerni a very successful business man, who turned into Greg’s biggest benefactor. He had learned how to raise money for the schools. For the next many ears Greg built schools for about one hundred villages. During that time he had been kidnapped, threatened to be killed, had been in the middle of a gang fight with guns, and almost killed by an underground mine. Despite all of those deadly experiences he kept his commitment to build schools for the small villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan. After the 9/11 attacks and America going to war against terrorists he realized education is better than war in preventing kids from growing up and being terrorists. The story focused on Greg Mortenson building schools for girls in Islamic countries. His inspiration came from his sister that had died to educate girls in rural Central Asian villages. Greg taught us that everybody can impact the world somehow good or bad. I liked Three Cups of Tea because it showed how someone can impact the world in a good way. It let you realize what kids have to go through to get an education, especially the girls, in Central Asian countries. It also showed through commitment and passion you can get about anything done. Greg Mortenson is a great person that made an impact on the world with out a lot of money and only a vision. I think people that like books with strong messages and a little suspense here and there. Written By: Isaac G.

6th Grade Entry - Return of the Homerun Kid

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Ricky’s entry. Thanks, Ricky!

Return of the Homerun Kid
By: Matt Christopher
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 149

Sylvester Coddmyer III was a great baseball player last season and was hitting homeruns every at bat. When he came the next year, he had a huge slump. Then when he was walking home from a baseball game, he ran into an ex-ballplayer named Cheeko. Cheeko gave Sylvester a lot of help for hitting a baseball, throwing a baseball, and fielding a baseball.

Sylvester is a boy that loves baseball. He is a really great batter but he gets in slumps sometimes.

One thing I like best about this book is it’s a baseball book and my favorite sport is baseball. I also like this book because it was interesting and fun to read. Something else I like about this book is that it told what happened when his team, the Redbirds, was playing.

I would recommend this book to people who like reading baseball books.

Submitted By: Ricky C.

6th Grade Entry - Twilight

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Kylie’s entry. Thanks, Kylie!

Twilight Stephanie Meyer Little, Brown Company, 480 p. A girl named Bella Swan moved from Arizona to Washington to live with her dad in a city named Forks because her mom remarried a guy named Phil and Phil plays baseball so they have to travel a lot. Bella has to go to a new school in the middle of the school year. Her first day of school she made a lot of new friends including Edward Cullen. She thought there was something wrong with Edward because he did not talk to her and his eyes changed color. The next few days Bella wanted to go talk to Edward to see what was wrong but he never showed. When he came back he introduced himself to Bella and they got to talking then Bella said that they should hang out sometime. Then the next day of school Bella was standing by her car on one side of the parking lot and Edward was one the other end. Then suddenly a car came rushing down the hill right by Bella. Edward suddenly run to Bella and stopped the van with his hand. Every one came rushing over to Bella. I was grateful as a reader for the fact that Edward saved Bella’s life. I would highly recommend this book to people who like adventure books and people who like love stories. Submitted by Kylie N.

6th Grade Entry - Holes

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Noah’s entry. Thanks, Noah!

Holes
Louis Sachar
Random House Children, 233 p.

The book Holes is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats goes to a camp called Camp Green Lake, because he was accused of stealing a pair of really nice shoes. Stanley has to choose between Camp Green Lake and jail and he chooses Camp Green Lake thinking it’s not so bad, but the camp is. The boy faces lots of challenges during his time in Camp Green Lake. Stanley’s great-great grandfather stole a pig from a fortune teller and the fortune teller puts a curse on his family. So his family is always getting bad luck. Stanley also makes a new friend who everyone picks on his name is Zero.
The main character in the story is Stanley Yelnats. Stanley Yelnats is in middle school. His family is very poor but very caring, his dad is an inventor. He gets picked on a lot in school and is over weight. Stanley goes through a lot during this book but in the end it all turns out great for him.
What I liked best about the book is there’s a lot of adventure in the story. One of my favorite parts of the story was when Zero runs away towards the mountains because everybody there treats him badly. But a few days later Stanley goes to look for his friend and escapes from camp. Then Stanley finds Zero and they climb the mountain to look for food and water (Camp Green Lake is a very dry desert). That’s one of my favorite parts of the book, because I think it was nice of Stanley to go and find his friend.
I would recommend this book for people who want a good and exciting story to read. Also for people that like adventure and action. There’s even a little sadness in the story as well.

By, Noah P.

6th Grade Entry - I Walk in Dread

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Ellie’s entry. Thanks, Ellie!

I Walk in Dread Mary Pope Osborne Scholastics Inc. 182 pg (epilogue: 185 pg) When the word “witches” is heard, people think of green woman with a sharp hat and a lengthy nose, but in Salem town around 1692 thoughts were much worse. In the book I Walk in Dread, Deliverance Trembly, a 12-year girl, documents her moments through the Salem Witch Trials. She talks about going to the meeting house and watching Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Parris, bawl in terror and confess that maids of the devil would pinch and jab them. During this time more and more people become afflicted and more and more people become accused. Deliverance prays that the horrifying graphics would be absent out of her mind. With nowhere to turn, Deliverance goes to Goody Corey to talk, read, and share bible studies. Goody Corey explains she does not consider the thought of witches, that is until Goodwife Corey is accused herself! Who hasn’t gone mad in Salem? Her sister, Mem, does not show any emotion for the death their uncle but emotions for her crush, Mr. Cooper. So her brother, Benjamin Trembly, the strikingly beautiful bachelor comes to help. But Liv’ (Deliverance) can’t take it anymore. So she expresses her feelings and tells her sister and brother that witches are nonsense. But surprisingly she is not alone! A woman who is the head of the household is the description of a Goodwife. But Goodwife Corey gives it a much bigger definition. Martha (Corey) is a religious, altruistic, lady. She stands her grounds and cares for the smallest of the feeble. She becomes like a mother to Deliverance when the times get rough. Goody Corey would read Liv,’ Mrs. Rowlandson, and they would share bible studies. But the most significant detail is she would do is talk with Liv’ about the problems in her life. She was vital part of Deliverance’s whole life. This is a staggering book. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I adore historic fiction so this was grand story to read. I can relate to the main character because we are the same age, yet because we are from different time periods I learned a great deal about the witch trials of 1692. I am fond of the description that Mary Pope Osborne uses to describe the four afflicted girls. Explaining how they would shriek and writhe around on the floor. I love this book. I recommend this book for boys and girls who like historic books or are very interested in the Salem Witch Trials. As for gender, really anyone can read it. But girls will probably relate to it better. I am sure everybody who reads I Walk in Dread will fall in love with this tremendous book! ELLIE L.

6th Grade entry - Alanna the First Adventure

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Meera’s entry. Thanks, Meera!

Alanna, the First Adventure
Tamora Pierce
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 216 p.

In Alanna, the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, Alanna hates her father’s decision to send her to the convent and her brother, Thom, to the palace to become a knight; Thom despises this as well. He wants to become the most powerful sorcerer in all of Tortall and she wants to become a warrior maiden and do great deeds. Their father is a scholar who does not care about his children. Alanna gets hit with the idea that will change their lives forever. Maude and Coram, the people who raised them from birth and look after them, can only tell Alanna and her twin brother apart. Thom and Alanna go to Maude who uses magic to find out if it is what the gods will. Thom leaves to become a sorcerer and Alanna becomes Alan, Thom’s twin brother, who departs for the palace to become a page, the first step in becoming a knight. Life as a page is straining and hard to bear. The first half of her day is spent studying and the other half is learning combat. Right away Alanna makes an enemy, Ralon of Malven. She also meets Prince Jonathan, Raoul, Alex, and her sponsor, Gary. George, the king of thieves, befriends her, teaches her advanced wrestling, and becomes one of her closest, most trusted friends. When Duke Roger, Jonathan’s cousin, arrives at the palace Alanna begins to feel uneasy. She does not understand why but the charming and handsome sorcerer feels like a threat to her. Is Roger evil? Will Alan become a knight? Will Alanna be discovered? To find out, read this amazing and action packed book. Alanna is a girl with fiery red hair and violet eyes. When she sets her mind to something there is no stopping her. She is a determined, fierce, and kind girl. Thom matches his twin’s looks perfectly, but he is the careful one who always thinks thing over. He despises people except his sister; he is not a fighter or very caring. Thom and Alanna may be twins but their personalities show no resemblance! Prince Jonathan has coal black hair and piercing sapphire eyes. He is strong, kind, thoughtful, and easy going. He makes a wonderful friend to Alan. Gary and Raoul are tall, strong, commanding boys who you would not want as enemies (as Ralon of Malven learned). Luckily for Alan they become friends quickly. Roger is handsome and charming, which is why Alanna doesn’t understand why she feels such an evil presence when Roger is around. George is sweet and understanding, he can make Alan laugh and has befriended them all. These are the main characters giving life to the story. I loved this book because it was filled with suspense, magic, combat, and a determined, strong, and amazing girl, Alanna of Trebond. This story proves that even if you are a girl you are still strong enough to compete with the boys. This story is also filled with mystery and legend. The message this story sent me was that your determination is the strength you need to follow your dreams. Alanna, the First Adventure is the first book in the Song of the Lioness series. The series is a thrilling adventure. I would recommend this series to people who enjoy adventure, action, suspense, mystery, and will power. Submitted by Meera C.

6th Grade Entry - Dragon Rider

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Daylon’s entry. Thanks, Daylon!

Dragon Rider
Cornelia Funke
Scholastic Inc., 523 p.

When humans invade the valley of dragons, Firedrake is sent on a quest to find the only place left for the dragons to live peacefully… High in the Himalayas lays a valley called the rim of heaven. The rim of heaven has nine peaks surrounding it in a circle. Firedrake and his companion, Sorrel go to London to get a map and find a boy named Ben who decides to go to the rim of heaven with them. In this great adventure they face great danger and an even greater evil. Firedrake is a young male silver dragon that can only fly by the light of the moon. His scales shine and glimmer under the moon too. He is one of the main heroes in this story. The part I liked most in this book was when Ben sees Firedrake for the first time. Also I liked how Sorrel resented Ben so much at the beginning and learned to like him in the end. Character development and adventure take a lead role in this book. Submitted by Daylon M

6th Grade Entry - New Moon

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Lana’s entry. Thanks, Lana!

New Moon
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown and Company
p.563


When Edward Cullen and his family leave Forks, Washington and Isabella Swan (Bella), they move to a different location because they are getting revealed. Edward took everything that would remind Bella of him because he wanted her to be better off without him. That didn’t happen because Bella goes into deep depression and does not talk to anybody because her loved one Edward left her. All of her friends ignore her and stop talking to her after they gave up hope on trying to cheer her up. She is stuck like this for four months. Until finally she snaps out of it and loves Jacob Black like a brother and they become best friends and do everything together. Bella still doesn’t forget about Edward though, because they made a promise before he left that she wouldn’t do anything stupid, or get hurt, so whenever she does anything wrong she hears his sweet, angel voice. Bella starts purposely doing dangerous things, just to hear his beautiful voice again. Some of the stunts Bella is doing could get her seriously injured.

One of the main characters in New Moon, is Bella. She is a mature girl who takes care of herself, and also her father, Charlie. In the relationship between her and her mother, Renee, she considers herself as being the adult. Bella can also be a klutz sometimes because she is always getting hurt, and falling down. Isabella is a unique girl with long, brown hair, and brown eyes. She is unusually pale for a person that had once lived in Phoenix, Arizona.

What I liked best about New Moon was that it was a love story mixed with action events. Once you start reading it you never want to put it down. It is a very interesting book with vampires in it. I also liked how Bella found a totally different side of her that she never knew she had. She expressed herself in so many ways. She was more adventures in this book then in Twilight, the first book of the series.

I recommend this book to all boys and girls because it is an exciting book to read and it never gets boring. Also if you like some books about vampires it would be a right choice for you. Just be aware to those who believe the beginning of the book is not appealing, for the ending will hook you back into Stephenie Meyer’s series.

Submitted by Lana C.

6th Grade Entry - Makuta's Revenge

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Dallin’s entry. Thanks, Dallin!

Makuta’s Revenge
C.A. Hapka
Scholastic, 93p.

The six Toa, Tahu, Gali, Lewa, Kopaka, Onua, and Pohatu, have greater elemental energy then ever, after evolving into Toa Nuva. After their struggles with the Bohrok Queens, Cahdok and Gahdok, the Toa Nuva are weary and tired. The matoran of each koro have discovered mysterious symbols of power for each Toa, only to find that an unknown thief takes them. With the symbols gone, the Toa have no elemental power. The next day, long after the twin suns rise, the Toa find the thief… or thieves rather. The thieves turn out to be quite, but not quite, familiar, a cousin to the Bohrok known as the Bohrok-Kal. With no power, the Toa are defenseless against the Bohrok-Kals’ crushing power. Now the six Toa Nuva need to make as Lewa says, a “quick-smart plan”, against the six Bohrok-Kal.

Toa Lewa is the brightest Toa Nuva of them all, which is kind of like me. He like all the others in Le-Koro has a weird speech pattern, like me, I always get my words in a jumble. Lewa Nuva is the Toa of air and sky. His elemental power is control of the “air-wind”. Out of all the pessimistic Toa, Lewa is one of two Toa that has an optimistic view on the situation.

I like this book because it is an action-packed, tension building adventure. It also has a unity building experience. That is tied with realizing destiny and accepting duty. It has a lot of building spirit and intelligence. It also has a lesson of learning that siblings are more important than you.

This book is for people that could go for a fun easy read every once and a while. If you like adventures, you will like this book. Makuta’s Revenge also as a few soft spots for the people that like them.

Submitted by: Dallin .O

6th Grade Entry - Double Fudge

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Katie’s entry. Thanks, Katie!

Double Fudge Judy Blume Dutton Children’s Books pg.213 Brothers Peter and Fudge went to Washington D.C. for spring break. As soon as they got there they went on a tour, mostly about money. Fudge wanted everything in the gift shop. Fudge loved money so much; he made his own money, Fudge Bucks’. The main character in Double Fudge is Peter. Peter’s friend, Jimmy Fargo, moved to SoHo because his father was an artist. Jimmy takes they subway to school every day. About every week Jimmy goes to Peters or Peter goes to Jimmy’s. Peter lives in an apartment, and Jimmy lives in a condo. They have been best friends for a long time. They also have another friend that lives in the apartments, Sheila. Jimmy used to live in the apartments but he doesn’t any more. While they were in Washington, there grandma, there little sister Tootsie, Fudge’s bird, and Peter’s dog were at home. In the gift shop Fudge saw a man staring at their dad. Fudge pointed him out for his dad. Then he walked over and said, “Tubby, is that you?” From saying that he knew it was his long last cousin, cousin Howie. Cousin Howie and their dad had a talk went some places and just hung out. He had two daughters Peters age, Flora and Fauna; he also had a son a little younger then Fudge, Farley. They deiced that they would come down to New York were Peter’s family lived. When they got back, a few days later they went to Jimmy’s dads art show. When they got back Howie and his family were outside waiting for them to get back. They stayed at Peter’s family’s apartment for a couple weeks. Then they got to stay at their neighbor’s apartment till December, while they were out of town. WILL THEY STAY IN NEW YORK WITH THEIR COUSINS OR NOT? I would recommend this book for sixth graders because there are a few things the younger grades won’t understand, and it would be too easy for higher grades.

6th grade entry - Battle of the Labyrinth

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alex’s entry. Thanks, Alex!


The Battle of the Labyrinth
Rick Riordan
Hyperior books for children,361pg.


Percy Jackson the son of Posidon is strong, courageous, and cunning.
He will need to be all of this and more to help his best friends Grover,
Annabeth and Tyson through their action packed adventure.


Percy, Grover, Annabeth and Tyson have all been given the same quest.
This quest will take them to an ancient maze called The Labyrinth.
During the capture of the flag Percy and Annabeth accidentally fall
through a hole. Percy and his friends may not be strong enough for what
happens next. Now you will have to read this book to find out!


Percy's exciting life is what I liked best about the book. I also really enjoyed
the action and adventure of the book, and that it had mythology.


I think this is a book for everyone from kids to adults that enjoy reading a
book with action, adventure and mythology.


Submitted by Alex S.