The Chrysalids

Book Review by Oloff B, grade 11

This is another exceptional book by John Wyndham, who is most famous for being the author of The Day of the Triffids. I found the “double” dialogue used in the book a bit confusing at first but as the story went on it became easier to follow. What I found very effective was the way in which the element of familiarity and the element of the unknown are combined in the setting. The author uses elements that are somewhat familiar, such as the idea of telepathy, relies on what is known to us through news reports about extremist sects, refers to places in the real world, such as Canada and New Zealand, and tells a story that is pure science fiction against this realistic background. This helps to make the story more believable, and therefore more frightening.
The story takes place in the future, on the island of Labrador, Canada, in an area known as Waknuk. What survivors assume to have been a punishment from God, Tribulation, had wiped out almost all living things on Earth, and most technology along with it. People have adopted many false teachings about what is right. They assume that any person with a visible defect is not created in the image of God and must be cast out of society. These people are forced to live in an area known as The Fringes. Other living things, such as plants and animals, are destroyed if they have a defect or mutation, known as deviations. This teaching is known as Purity.
David Strorm, the hero of this novel, is born into a family of firm believers in Purity. His father, Joseph Strorm, is a rich farmer and a strict follower of Purity. He doesn’t allow anything with even the slightest deviation from the “norm” to live. David’s closest friend, Sophie Wender such a deviant she has six toes. Her parents hide this fact from everyone but David. Unfortunately, Sophie is found out and banished to The Fringes. As time passes, David realizes that he isn’t like everyone else. He has the ability to communicate telepathically with seven other people in his district who have the same abilities as him. They are able to talk to one another at any time in any place via “thought shapes”. This includes communicating with another group of people in New Zealand. The people of New Zealand remained relatively unaffected by Tribulation and maintained much of their technology. In the end, it appears that New Zealand will be the last safe place left in the world.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction. Because the story is more realistic than most science fiction stories, giving an insight into other parts of the world, like New Zealand, and parts of Canada that someone from Vancouver might not know about, I think that even people who don’t really like this genre will find this book appealing.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Book Review by Seth B, grade 6

Tom Sawyer is a fiction book of 282 pages, written by Mark Twain. It was originally published in 1876.

This book is about Tom Sawyer and his adventures. It is a very humorous novel. The way they speak is very funny. The descriptions are hilarious. It is funny how Tom is always getting into trouble.

My favorite passage is where Tom sees Becky Thatcher: “He saw a new girl in the garden-a lovely little blue eyed creature with yellow hair plaited into two long tails, white summer frock, and embroidered pantalettes. The fresh crowned hero fell without firing a shot.” I like this passage because of its humor. Tom falls in love with Becky as soon as he sees her.

I like the book’s story line. Tom Sawyer is a very believable book. Tom and his friends do not do superhuman stunts. It is a very simple book, everything the characters do you can do yourself. Tom does not parachute off a cliff, or anything crazy like that, he does everyday things. The things that happen to him can happen to anyone. I like the book because a can relate some of the things that happen in it to my life.

3 Cups of Tea

“Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver

Book Review: by Adrian, grade 7

The non-fiction book “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is a story about Greg Mortenson who devotes his life to building schools for children in Pakistan. His story will leave the reader amazed at the hardships he encounters and moved by the courage he demonstrates in order to fulfill his promise.
The story begins in 1993 when Greg Mortenson, a mountaineer, attempts to climb a mountain called K2, in Pakistan, in order to pay tribute to his sister after she passes away. After being separated from the team of mountaineers that he was traveling with, Greg gets lost and nearly dies of exposure. He finds his way to a remote village where he is nursed back to health by the friendly villagers. After he recovers, he wants to repay the people for their hospitality. He sees that there are no school facilities and that the village children are not receiving a proper education. Therefore, he promises to return and build a school in the village. Greg returns home to the United States and begins to raise money in order to construct the school. After building the school for the village, other villages soon begin asking Greg to also provide schools for them. This need launches his quest to continue building schools all over Pakistan and later Afghanistan.
Greg’s plan to build schools may sound easy so far, but it was far more challenging than one could imagine. For one, he was poor and raising money was difficult. He didn’t even have a house so he lived in his car. He also encounters resistance from a powerful and hostile chief who halts his plans to continue building schools for girls. Greg even needed a body guard to protect him from those who were opposed to his work. The terrain of Pakistan proved to be difficult to travel because of war-beaten roads. These are just a few of the hardships that Greg experiences during his journey in order to provide education for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Despite these challenges, Greg Mortenson succeeds in building over 50 schools over the next 10 years in the war-torn country of Pakistan.
This book is so well written that the reader will not be able to put it down. The writer keeps the reader absorbed in the book by taking the reader along on a roller coaster adventure of fear, sadness, violence, delight, poverty, anxiety, love, hatred and unexpected surprises. This book lacks nothing. It is amazing because it proves that a common person in a foreign country can stand up and say “I want to fix this”, and then find the courage to accomplish it.

Pete's Gold

Pete’s Gold By Luanne Armstrong, Review by Jaime, age 15

Pete is city kid from Victoria. When he gets sent off to his Grandmother’s farm for the summer, Pete is expecting a long two months of boredom without his computer, video games, or friends. But that was before he gets to know his Grandma and the neighborhood kids, Jess and Bird. They tell him stories of his long lost ancestor who suffered and unknown death, and of what he left behind. Pete finds lots of fun, alternate ways to entertain himself in the summer, and gets into a fair bit of trouble too. When he finds and extraordinary discovery, his family gives him the admiration and respect he always longed for.

Pete’s Gold is a really great adventure book for preteens and even teenagers. It has suspense and keeps you turning pages to find out what happens next. I like this book because imagining the farm and the lake was fun in my opinion. The relationship between Pete and his grandmother grows over the summer, and when an accident happens to her he comes running to the rescue. He also changes over the summer because he goes from a regular video-game-playing city kid to a risk-taking, active country boy. Pete learns about responsibility by helping on the farm.

Miss Harold's Note: Pete's Gold is short-listed for the 2009 Chocolate Lily Awards

Call It Courage

This is a review from Aziz, grade 5:

Call it courage is about Manfue and his dog Uri getting caught on an island. Manfue's name means "stout heart" but his people call him coward. Since his mother died from sea, Manfue is afraid of the sea.

Do you know what I like about the author Armstrong Sperry? He keeps his readers interested, he keeps on telling us more and more interesting facts, and then he tells you something so exciting you have to read more. I cannot tell you what will happen at the end, but I know you will like it.

Underground to Canada

This review is written by Amina in grade 6:

Do you like books about slavery? If you do, Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker is a book for you. Many characters in this book are based on real people! For instance Levi Coffin and his wife Cathrine helped more than 3,000 slaves escape to Canada, and Mr. Alexander Ross helped more than 31 or more slaves escape to Canada in about 5 years.

Underground to Canada is a story about a young girl, who is taken away from her mother by a ruthless slave trader. All she has left is the dream of freedom. She meets a girl named Liza. When workers from the underground railway offer to help them, they are ready. But the slave catchers and their dogs will soon be after them. Will they ever reach Canada?

Barbara Smucker makes the reader turn each page of this wonderful book, for example: A little of the fear and ache lifted from Julilly she began repeating the words that the slave owner had used Quaker Abolitionist, free n---- boy and found herself wondering if the words might have anything to do with Canada.

Will she ever get to Canada? Or will she find herself picking cotton with whip slashing down her back if you want to find out I recommend this book I recommend this book to you!

Miss Harold's Notes:Here is a link for more information on the Underground Railway, and one man's walking journey done last year

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The following is a review by Anthony age 8:
Do you love happy endings? If you like books with happy ending, you have to read this! Although, the beginning is very sad. Charlie is a boy who is poor. His mom couldn't find a job. His dad is a cap screwer. They could only buy a small cabin. I don't think you want to read those parts. You still have to read the ending.

The good part is that Charlie got a golden ticket. If you find a golden ticket, this guy who owns a huge chocolate factory will give you tons of chocolate. Your house will become a chocolate world. The guy who owns the factory is Mr. Willy Wonka.

I can't tell you how the story ends but I can tell you what I like. Dahl makes weird crazy books. I like crazy. He writes interesting books like this book I'm telling you about.

Do you wonder how Charlie got the golden ticket? Read this book to find out how that poor boy got that golden ticket. I really recommend you to read this book now.