Last month we asked children and teens to review the books they’ve been reading this summer and to send those reviews to us in the form of a letter to Tribune readers, explaining in their own words why the book is important to read or worthy of note. As you’ll see from the first sampling on these pages, we’ve received reviews of books on a variety of themes from young people of all ages. A number of the contributions were sent in by libraries through their summer-reading programs.
Turn to the Books section next week for more reviews by young readers.
The Phantom Tollbooth
By Norton Juster
Reviewed by Adam Ornstein, 10, Morton Grove
Parkview School
“The Phantom Tollbooth” is extremely creative and well written. It is about a boy who has a nasty habit of finding the cloudy lining of every piece of silver that life gives him, but all of that changes when a mysterious tollbooth appears in his bedroom and he drives through it. He embarks on a dangerous but educational rescue mission to put the world beyond the tollbooth at peace.
Great for ages 8 to 88+. I give this book 5 stars out of 6.
Sweetblood
By Pete Hautman
Reviewed by Jessica Sirkin, 15, Glencoe
New Trier High School
“Sweetblood” is about the issues of a teenage diabetic who is drawn into the gothic subculture through an Internet chat room. She attracts the attention of a mysterious figure known as Draco due to her belief that diabetics are the original vampires.
This book draws fascinating parallels between vampire mythology and diabetes in the believable setting of the high school world. This book is perfect for young-adult lovers of vampire fiction; it combines elements of horror with those of the classic novel of finding your place in the world. In effect, this novel is “Interview With the Vampire” meets “The Princess Diaries.” If you liked either of those, this is the perfect book for you.
No More Dead Dogs
By Gordon Korman
Reviewed by Katie Glomp, 9, Bensenville
Chippewa School
First of all, I’d love to tell you what an awesome book it is. In this book, all the main characters tell their stories about what happened in their own lives. Then one of the main characters, whose name is Wallace Wallace, changes the play “Old Shep, My Pal” into the weirdest play ever!
Another reason to read this book is that it’s very interesting. There is always something going on–there is never a dry moment.
In “No More Dead Dogs,” the kids make more sense than the adults. Usually it’s the other way around; this time the kids taught the adults a lesson! Finally, this book was hysterical. The kids turned something sad into something really funny. This book is really worth your time. You won’t regret reading “No More Dead Dogs”!
Born Confused
By Tanuja Desai Hidier
Reviewed by Erica Wilfong, 16, Chicago
Home school (Chicago Public Library, Edgebrook Branch)
(This review as published has been corrected in this text.)
I always thought that East Indians were kind of odd because the women wear saris even in Chicago, but the book “Born Confused” showed me a lot of awesome things about the Indian culture.
Dimple Lala doesn’t like being of South Asian Indian descent. She doesn’t fit in at all with any of the other kids at her American high school except her friend Gwen, who lives down the block. Dimple’s mother runs into an old friend from India and invites her over for chai tea, because the friend has a 20-year-old son. Dimple’s parents are ecstatic with this knowledge. They really want Dimple to have a “nice suitable Indian boy.” Dimple thinks she is doomed.
After the meeting with Karsh (the nice suitable Indian boy), Dimple swears she will never like him, and never ever date him. Then Gwen talks Dimple into using fake IDs to go to an Indian nightclub, where Gwen just happens to meet Karsh and decides she wants to give it a go with him because Dimple didn’t want to. From there it gets really good, but I’m not going to tell you what happens! I will tell you this: I didn’t figure out how it was going to end.
I really liked the book because the characters sounded like people I would want to know, and it made me want to find the Indian community in Chicago. I have a new outlook and lots of respect for the Indian culture.
The Graduation of Jake Moon
By Barbara Park
Reviewed by Shamari Hudgins, 12, Chicago
Sutherland School (Chicago Public Library, Walker Branch)
“The Graduation of Jake Moon” is a great book. It is about a 14-year-old boy named Jake telling his story about his life with his grandfather named Skelly, who has Alzheimer’s disease. My granddad has that too. So I can relate with the things in the book.
The book is serious and funny at the same time. It is serious because Skelly ran away. My granddad did too. It was a scary situation. It was funny when Skelly put his clothes in the refrigerator. I can’t imagine someone doing that.
It took me a day to read this book because it was so good. I think everybody, even adults, should read it, especially people who know somebody with Alzheimer’s.
Welcome to the Ark
By Stephanie S. Tolan
Reviewed by Rachel M. Bruska, 14, Round Lake Beach
Grayslake High School (Round Lake Area Library)
This book moved me in a way I’ve never been moved before. It was written in 1996, yet it talks about all that has been happening in the world since Sept. 11, 2001.
The four main characters are considered “crazy” by the outside world. They all have extraordinary connections with kids like them, prodigies in different subjects. The four know Armageddon is happening around them, and they know they are meant to stop it.
This is a book about discovering yourself inside and out. It is also about the bond between four very different kids struggling to survive in a world trying to destroy itself.
The Golden Compass
By Philip Pullman
Reviewed by Annie Labedz, 14, Chicago
St. Athanasius School (Chicago Public Library, Rogers Park Branch)
If you liked the fifth Harry Potter, you will like “The Golden Compass.” It has fantasy, adventure and a little bit of mystery.
It all begins with Lyra, the main character, listening in on some important information and finding herself in the middle of a complicated mystery and journey. Once you start reading this book, you will be pulled into the magical atmosphere and find yourself not wanting to put it down.
The Waterstone
By Rebecca Rupp
Reviewed by Jordy Figiel, 11, Wheaton
Edison Middle School
I read a fabulous book called “The Waterstone” by Rebecca Rupp. The story tells that even the smallest child can save the entire world when they put their heart into it.
The story follows Tad, a 12-year-old of the Fisher Tribe, and his sister Birdie. The water in the world is starting to dry up and it leaves the lakes and ponds waterless. Their father, Pondleweed, gets captured and taken away by some mysterious force.
Now it’s up to Tad to get his father back and save the water from the Nixies, power-hungry fairies who took the water by stealing the Waterstone, one of three element stones that control the world. That’s a lot of pressure on a preteen!
The Trumpet of the Swan
By E.B. White
Reviewed by Dinah Schmeltz, 7, Elgin
Otter Creek Elementary (Gale Borden Public Library)
A swan named Louis can’t speak. His father stole a trumpet. He is paying off his father’s debt. He went with his human friend to camp and played music. He got a hundred dollars. Then he worked at a swan boat. Then he played concerts. He got married with Serena and had babies.
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
By Stan and Jan Berenstain
Reviewed by Brittany Weissmark Giacomo, 6, Evanston
Orrington School
The bears were alone because their mom went to buy some food. When their mom came back home, her lamp was broken. The bears told her a bird came and broke the lamp.
The book is important to read because the Berenstain bears lie to their mom and dad about the broken lamp. When you read it, then you know what to do when you tell a lie. You should tell your mom and dad the truth. If you tell them a lie, they might not trust you.
Silent to the Bone
By E.L. Konigsburg
Reviewed by Michelle Zhang, 12, Arlington Heights
South Middle School
Imagine you have a friend. Your only friend. He’s really, really sincere–both of you entered a contest; his essay was better, but yours won. Most would at least grumble, but not Branwell Zamborska. He probably couldn’t be happier if he won himself.
Suddenly his life changes. His dad gets married, again. And Branwell is sent away to his grandparents while his dad and his newfound bride figure out the wedding plans.
Branwell is still docile, despite how the engagement was flung upon him. He keeps his necktie on. Literally.
Then the parents have a baby, Nicole. Branwell loves her. They order an au pair, a foreign-exchange nanny. You notice him becoming more distant.
Disaster strikes. Nicole goes into a coma; Branwell is struck dumb and can’t talk. The au pair says Branwell dropped her, which you know is untrue. You have to get him to talk and discover the mystery before it’s too late and he’s convicted of the crime.
Just Ella
By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Reviewed by Margaret Bole, 14, Chicago
Lane Technical High School (Chicago Public Library, Independence Branch)
This is an exceptional sequel to the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. In this zany, attention-grabbing, can’t-stop-reading novel, Ella, or “Cinderella,” is having trouble fitting into the lifestyle of the castle. She is aggravated that women were demeaned and hardly recognized in the castle.
As the days go on, she realizes that the prince married her only to be king and not because of love. She soon comprehends that her young tutor named Jed was the only one who ever really cared about her and not the person she was to become. Now she must keep two secrets inside, her horrifying past and the person whom she really wanted to marry. Shortly after those secrets are kept no longer, her life flings into countless obstacles and situations that even with her spirit, she thinks she can never overcome.
Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism
By Georgia Byng
Reviewed by Sarah Frantik, 13, Naperville
Madison Junior High
Molly Moon was an orphan who thought that life wasn’t worth living. Especially since she had recently lost her best and only friend. But things soon changed when Molly discovered a hypnosis book and figured out that she could make people do or think anything that she wanted. Molly knew, though, that she had to keep her secret safe, but someone knew, and that man would stop at nothing to get Molly’s special power.
The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley
By Martine Murray
Reviewed by Robin Goldberg, 15,
River Forest
Oak Park-River Forest High School
For those of you who are tired of the uniform realistic fiction novel, “The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley” might be just what you’re looking for. Even though the title character is a 12-year-old girl living in the present, her story is not typical in any sense of the word. She lives with her mother in Australia where her goal is to become the Bat Pole Champion, until the son of a retired acrobat turns her life upside down. Everyone is certain to find a bit of themselves in Cedar’s character, whether they will want to admit it or not.
Please don’t pass up this humorous and refreshing read; it is proof that being yourself is really all that matters.
Danger on Panther Peak (originally Shadow on the Snow)
By Bill Wallace
Reviewed by Mika Yasukawa, 12, Chicago
Chicago Waldorf School (Chicago Public Library, Rogers Park Branch)
I think everyone should read “Danger on Panther Peak” because it’s an exciting book. When I read this book I couldn’t put it down. My favorite part was when Tom had to go through Panther Peak with his horse, Ginger. It’s a shortcut to get to his friend Justin’s house, because Tom’s grandfather is hurt and needs help. When Tom goes through Panther Peak he is very careful, because there is a killing panther on the loose. Tom notices Ginger is acting a bit strange, so he slows down. Read it and find out why!
The Skin I’m In
By Sharon G. Flake
Reviewed by Crystal Hooper, 13, Chicago
Irvin C. Mollison School (Chicago Public Library, Hall Branch)
This book is about a young girl named Maleeka Madison, who is having problems with the skin she’s in, because people like John-John and Char and the twins always have something mean to say to her. But Maleeka just keeps letting them tease her.
So one day Maleeka tries to fit in with Char and the twins. Maleeka knows if she hangs out with them, people will stop picking on her. But as a result Char only got her into more and more trouble. Something that made the book worth reading was I wanted to know what was wrong with the skin she is in.
I want to thank my teacher, Miss Jenkins, for reading that book to the class, and that’s why I reread it over the summer.
I think people who are having trouble with the skin they are in should read it.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
By J.K. Rowling
Reviewed by Natalie Terchek, 13, Wilmette
Wilmette Junior High (Wilmette Public Library)
This book was excellent. The author made the story suspenseful, yet funny at the same time, which can be an extremely hard thing to do.
Star in the Storm
By Joan Hiatt Harlow
Reviewed by Andie Grant, 9, Green Oaks
Oak Grove School
(This review as published has been corrected in this text.)
I think “Star in the Storm” is a good book about a girl, Maggie, and her best friend, Sirius, a Newfoundland dog. She has to hide her dog because all dogs besides sheep-herding dogs are banned from the village where she lives. Then a storm comes and a ship is sinking with 100 people on it, including the sister of one of Maggie’s neighbors. Maggie knows Sirius can help, but then everyone would know that she has been breaking a rule by hiding the dog.
I liked the book so much because of the message it sends about the friendship between a girl and her dog.
Redwall
By Brian Jacques
Reviewed by Jordan Weiner, 12,
Buffalo Grove
Cooper Middle School
I just read an amazing book! “Redwall” is about animals impersonating people. A mouse goes on an adventure to save Redwall Abbey from the evil rat, Cluny the Scourge. “Redwall” is one of 16 books in the “Redwall” series.
When we were assigned “Redwall,” my friends and I were disappointed. At first glance, it seemed like a book we would all lose interest in. But it turned out to be an adventure!
We soon learned not to judge a book by its cover. The more we read, the more interesting and exciting “Redwall” became. We couldn’t put it down! We got so into it, acting out favorite characters and speaking in “Redwall” languages.
This book grabs you and pulls you in. “Redwall” is a must read.
Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants
By Louise Rennison
Reviewed by Gabrielle Mitchell, 12,
Chicago
Pilgrim Lutheran School (Chicago Public Library, Lincoln Park Branch)
A good book is usually hard to find, right? Well, search no more, because I have found one. “Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants” is about a girl named Georgia and her dysfunctional family. The only thing on Georgia’s mind is being with her boyfriend, Robbie, who is in a very popular band that’s always on tour, which is Georgia’s problem. What should she do?
I think this is a good book for teens and preteens. I loved this book and you will too. If you think you have problems, hear Georgia’s. You will definitely be amused.
Hooray for Henry
By Jean Bethell
Reviewed by Lorenzo Pacheco, 8, Chicago
Louisa May Alcott Elementary (Chicago Public Library, Independence Branch)
There are six races. Between races, Henry’s friends ask him to eat. He says no. Henry does not win five races. When he gives up, he decides to eat. Then there’s no food! The last race was a pie race, and everyone was full but
Henry . . .
It’s exciting because you don’t know if Henry is going to win or not. The moral of this story is to never give up.
