ABC POEM
Animals
Became Crazily Deadly, Even Families Grew Horrified. |
In
Jamaica Kangaroos Left Many New Occupants Petrified. |
Quiet
Rabbits Scurried Towards Underneath Vehicles With Xylophones Yelling "Zoom!" |
Haiku
Dark and silent night
The moon glowing through the trees
Enjoying the peace
Dark and silent night
The moon glowing through the trees
Enjoying the peace
The Unwanteds
Obedience, something that every parent has been taught to teach, every child has learned, but in a situation where obedience is the only way you can live, is it right? Being a certain way, only doing certain things is that a world of obedience? Or is it torture? In the world of Quill you are raised to be intelligent, obedient and self-aware. Raised in a society where not only you are not allowed to be creative but are killed when doing so. In this story, Aaron and Alex are two twins. Aaron follows the way of society and is programmed to report actions that go against it. Alex the artistic twin that has been reported many times, even by his own twin brother. At the age of 13, the people of Quill, or more so the children of Quill are categorized. Wanted's, Necessaries and Unwanted's. All those that have been reported are sent to their deaths. Or have been told that they are. In reality when sent to their "deaths" they are actually sent to a diverse world of colour, creativity and prosperity. When sent to this world they manipulate the people of Quill, telling them that they have died. But Mr.Today the leader of Artime saved the "Unwanteds" and kept them in a safe sanctuary. Somewhere where they can express their creativity without fear. But all that changed when Alex needed to see Aaron. This book was had a great concept, with twists and turns that made us flip every page with eagerness. Many thoughts were provoked because of the gripping alternative worlds in one, This book was magical, creative and full of adventurous things. I would rate this book a 7.5/10 |
Lisa McMann
Originally Published: August 30, 2011 |
DIAMONTE
Dreams
Unrealistic Fantasies
Sleeping Drifting Believing
Life is perfect. Cruelty is everywhere.
Working Thinking Achieving
Stressful Hardships
Reality
Dreams
Unrealistic Fantasies
Sleeping Drifting Believing
Life is perfect. Cruelty is everywhere.
Working Thinking Achieving
Stressful Hardships
Reality
Edible
My shirt is white chocolate
My pants are black beans
My jacket's pink grapefruit
And my socks are vanilla icecream
My shoes are grey frosting
With black licorice bows
I wish I could eat everything
But then i'd have no clothes!
-Sukhleen Matharu
My shirt is white chocolate
My pants are black beans
My jacket's pink grapefruit
And my socks are vanilla icecream
My shoes are grey frosting
With black licorice bows
I wish I could eat everything
But then i'd have no clothes!
-Sukhleen Matharu
Give a Boy a Gun Fear, worries and doubts creep into our minds, every step we take, every thought we have. Is this something we choose to think, choose to let control what we do, where we go and how we live our lives? The answer, well simply depends on you. Is it maybe a good things we let our minuscule minds think, perceive and command ourselves to do these things? Perhaps it's others actions that conquer our lives. Or the words of others that change our thoughts which change our words which also in fact change our actions. But do actions define us? In Give a Boy a Gun, perhaps it was the actions and words others did and spoke that conquered Brendan and Gary's lives. Not only did it make them say things, think things and do things that they shouldn't have, the actions of the bullies that hurt Brendan and Gary targeted not just these two kids, they targeted all of those who love them and all of those who live lives around them. Maybe a guy standing near Sam while he pushed Gary into a locker went home and let those actions sink into him, he absorbed them and thought about all the possible outcomes which could happen. He didn't think that two small kids could hurt those who hurt them. But that's exactly what happened. While reading this novel, thoughts, questions and assumable actions rained in my mind while every chapter ended. "Why couldn't they think of a different way to do this?" "Why weren't these adults responsible with their guns?" Why why why. Reading this book gave an unanticipated reality check and that's why I believe that reading this book will give unique views and perhaps different understandings. This book was amazing, yet twisted. Even though this is a book, I think Todd Strasser made this book to spread awareness, and to show people that not only can these things happen, they can be ocurring right at this moment, but no one would know. But to me, this book is, and will always be a question. |
Todd Strasser
Originally Published: September 1, 2000 My Review: 8.5/10 and an amazing recommendation Book Reviews: "Vivid, distressing, and all too real." -Kirkus Reviews "Both haunting and harrowing, the book deserved a wide readership, discussion and debate." -Booklist, starred review |
Log Jam
Log Jam was an interesting book, it shared some insight on current family struggles and realistic situations which could happen nowadays. Log Jam had an interesting outcome and the 2 points of view really changed the book on it's aspects and perspectives, it really had a unique result with twists and turns in the story, personally I really enjoyed the point of view of Lenora, a main character in the book. The "personality" of the book was great but at points it was quite bland and lacked in action or compelling storytelling but otherwise had a great balance. I would rate this book a 3.5/5 because of the great result but anticlimactic way of revealing it and the sometimes bland parts of the book. |
Monica Hughes
Originally Published: 1987 (Back of The Book Reviews) "A new Monica Hughes book is always a ray of bright light" -Quill and Quire "Exciting and suspenseful" -Toronto Star |
Mr. Fodi- The Art of Writing a Fantasy Novel
Favourite Paragraph
As Ziana slowed to a stop all she could see was the blue light of the amulet, filling up the space around her, and the sound of her heart thumping like a megaphone into her ears. Slowly she looked at her surroundings, the endless running had left her at the end of an alleyway in the late afternoon. The brick walls lining around her looked like a vibrant flush of colour yet once she stared into the horizon she knew it was nothing compared. The streaks of red and orange on the salmon backdrop looked like colours from the rainbow, yet the yellow light sitting on the grassy hill tops gave the whole scene a little diversity. While Ziana was staring into the sun, she realized her hand was burning and it wasn't coming from the dark alleyway. She looked down at her palm to see smoke coming from underneath the amulet. She quickly tied it around her neck as it gripped her skin like a snake. At that moment she saw the aftermath, oddly her hand didn't hurt although it was burning a second ago. She looked intently at her palm, a burnt circular shape with two arrows facing opposite ways, she then had a thought. "Are these the missing coordinates from the Book of Time?" whispered Ziana. She looked around just now realizing what danger awaits for her, until she heard a voice coming from behind her.
Favourite Paragraph
As Ziana slowed to a stop all she could see was the blue light of the amulet, filling up the space around her, and the sound of her heart thumping like a megaphone into her ears. Slowly she looked at her surroundings, the endless running had left her at the end of an alleyway in the late afternoon. The brick walls lining around her looked like a vibrant flush of colour yet once she stared into the horizon she knew it was nothing compared. The streaks of red and orange on the salmon backdrop looked like colours from the rainbow, yet the yellow light sitting on the grassy hill tops gave the whole scene a little diversity. While Ziana was staring into the sun, she realized her hand was burning and it wasn't coming from the dark alleyway. She looked down at her palm to see smoke coming from underneath the amulet. She quickly tied it around her neck as it gripped her skin like a snake. At that moment she saw the aftermath, oddly her hand didn't hurt although it was burning a second ago. She looked intently at her palm, a burnt circular shape with two arrows facing opposite ways, she then had a thought. "Are these the missing coordinates from the Book of Time?" whispered Ziana. She looked around just now realizing what danger awaits for her, until she heard a voice coming from behind her.
Alone At Ninety Foot
Alone At Ninety Foot is a expressive novel. Katherine Holubitsky expresses how people can push their feeling down, how they can become a different person by doing that. This novel shows Pamela, a teenage girl with a late mother and younger sister. It shows how she dealt with her feelings and how she dealt with the change. The thoughtful outlook on Pamela's life showed her the beauty of her surroundings, and the life she could have lived, if not filled with sorrow and despair. She forgot those feelings and made new ones, ones which made her who she is now, and who she was before. Alone At Ninety Foot had a great outlook and understanding of how people react in situations which could potentially be a reality. i would rate this book a 4/5, I really enjoyed this novel and I think it gave me a better outlook on sorrowful situations. |
Katherine Holubitsky
(Back Of The Book Reviews) "...deals with complex issues with great honesty... All in all, a wonderful book." -The Observer "A Salinger-like ear for adolescent speech...: -Quill and Quire |
Even If It Kills Me
Even If It Kills Me is an eye opening book. It shows the consequences and reality of a young girl being affected by the media, the social standards and her own, based on those. This book shows how a normal young girl can get caught up in the world of standards and beauty, and Melanie, the main character, tries to exceed expectations, even her own. As the book progresses it shows that even small things such as dieting can effect anybody. Melanie, in the end, becomes anorexic and has to stay at the hospital until recovery. The end of the book is touching, it shows that even in the darkest of problems there is always a light side. This novel not only educated me on needs and wants, on self esteem and empowering yourself but also the fact that being perfect cannot be an expectation, it is only a reality once you become yourself. I would rate this book a 4/5. This novel is not only inspiring and empowering but it is also educational. A novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. |
Dorothy Joan Harris
Originally Published: June 1 1987 (Reviews) “Recommended reading for anyone interested in learning more about anorexia nervosa…” — The Evening Patriot. “The low-key but effective prose of Even If It Kills Me pulls the reader into the world of the anorexic in a sympathetic yet clear-eyed way.” — Scene Magazine -- Review |
Zen and the Art of Faking It
Zen and the Art of Faking It is a fun to read type of book. Not only does it evoke emotion inside of you, but it creates an envy for desire, a desire for happiness not only for the main character, San, but also for the side characters, the ones which the author, Jordan Sonnenblick, described with passion. This book has a hidden meaning, as that meaning reaches the character they face real life problems, which is much like a reality in our everyday lives. This book has ups and downs all with the reader wondering the next step in San Lee's reality. With a unique story build up this novel has all the factors to make a great book. This book, with an educational side, teaching about Zen Buddhism, and with a lighthearted funny side, showing the reader the depth and possibility of problems and solutions. I would rate this book a 3.5/5 because of the slow pace to reach the climax. Although this book had a slow start it still made my heart race with anxiousness! |
Jordan Sonnenblick
Originally Published: 2007 (Back of the Book Reviews) "[W]ildly funny." -Kliatt, starred review "This light-hearted situation of comedy is peppered with genuine Zen insight." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Hilarious and heart-wrenching." -Kirkus Reviews "Author Jordan Sonnenblick has done it again." -teensreadtoo.com "The writing is fresh, the characters appealing, and it looks like the author has another hit." -Oakland Tribune |
Anything But Typical
Anything But Typical is an amazing novel. By showing the characteristics and thinking of an autistic twelve year old, I could now understand what it was like, I could imagine myself in the position if the "character" Jason Blake and I could understand what he was going through. His thinking even though on the outside not shown, on the inside was like imagining a world of mechanics making him able to think but not portray that emotion on the outside, with barely any words Jason Blake spoke to me. He had or more accurately Nora Raleigh Baskin had, shown the true meaning of not judging a book by its cover. Jason Blake, to others was a defected person. But on the inside he was "normal." The definition of my normal had changed because of this book. This book not only was a thrill to read it was an educational experience, in a "secretive" way. If you enjoy learning about new things such as Autism or how that effects people, then you will certainly enjoy this book. This book may be a fiction, but it is a reality to many people. I would rate this book a definite: 4.5/5 |
Nora Raleigh Baskin
Originally Published: 2009 (Back of the Book Reviews) "Baskin's delineation of an autistic boy's world is brilliant." -Kirkus reviews, starred review "Luminious. . . . This is an enormously difficult subject, but Baskin, without dramatics or sentimentality, makes it universal." -Booklist. starred review "Should readily captivate readers and open eyes." -Publishers Weekly |
Phantom Tollbooth
Phantom Tollbooth is a great adventure book, the creative ideas that were made in this book make you think about how imaginative and innovative you had to be to create such a unique experience. The twists and turns sometimes may be confusing, but as the book progresses you get used to the imaginative language and complicated questions which you face on almost every page. The ingenious creation has many ups and downs, the descriptive sentences either lighten or darken the mood. You can see how the author, Norton Juster, created a world, of light, darkness, empathy and liveliness. The illustrations, although a sketch shows an image one could not create, which just pulls the book together. The charismatic characters that Mr.Juster created give you a taste of fantastical yet realistic ideas that give a creative input that makes you think and wonder of real life experiences close to those. I would rate this book at 2.5/5 because of the elongated sentences which sometimes can be confusing. |
Norton Juster
Originally Published in 1961 (Back of the Book Reviews) "I read (The Phantom Tollbooth) first when I was 10. I still have the book report I wrote, which began 'This is the best book ever.' " -Anna Quindlen - The New York Times "A classic...Humorous, full of warmth and real invention." -The New Yorker |
False Face
By: Welwyn Wilton Katz False Face is an amazing fiction book, the mystery of the "faces" pulls you in from the very beginning. This book begins with the characters Laney and Tom. They find mysterious things in their local bog and powerful things start to happen. What I love about this book is that the background lesson makes Laney and Tom begin to understand about the importance of an equal society. This book includes twists and turns and mysterious history which makes you read more and more! If you like a mysterious fiction book, this book is for you. I loved the pulls of mystery and action and how there was always something happening for you to concentrate on. This book has great ups and downs which makes it a perfect mystery thriller fiction to read. I would rate this book 4 stars out of 5 because of the slow beginning other than that, this book is a perfect balance of knowledge along with history and mystery. -Sukhleen Matharu |
Welwyn Wilton Katz
Originally Published in 1987 (Back of the Book Reviews) "Steeped in Indian Mythology and modern-day family drama, False Face is terrifying and exciting" -Maclean's "Katz has produced a sure-fire thriller..." -Montreal Gazette |
A) What Happened? (What was the problem?)
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B) Why was it okay?
(Nobody Complained)
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C) How was it corrected? (Repairs towards A.R.D.)
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D) Why did it become okay?
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