Earlier this year, we asked kids to describe a great book they’ve read by writing a review or drawing a picture to show why the book is so special. The Read & Write project has received hundreds of reviews and drawings about a variety of books. We’ve heard from young readers of all ages, enjoying books through library summer-reading programs or while sitting on their bunk at camp or lounging on the couch at home. Please come to the Books section again next week for more reviews. The reviews and illustrations from previous weeks, as well as a librarians’ list of more great summer reading, are at chicagotribune.com/books.
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
By Barbara Park
Reviewed by Kasey Dea, 10
Glenview
Glen Grove School
This joyful story is about a playful kindergartner whose name is Junie B. Jones. It’s the day before the first day of school and Junie is meeting her new teacher. “Mrs.” is what she calls her. Junie B. first finds out that she must ride the bus home. She gets very upset. The next day she has a great time. Then it’s time to load the buses. She hides everywhere. Then she has to go to the bathroom but the doors are locked. So she calls 911 and they come running along with Junie B.’s mother! She doesn’t get in trouble but she does learn a very valuable lesson.
Mississippi Trial, 1955
By Chris Crowe
Review by Ashley Pickett, 13
Hazel Crest
Prairie Hills Junior High (Grande Prairie Public Library)
I really enjoyed this book, but there was no happy ending. This was a sad but interesting book. I could hardly put it down. There was real suspense going through the whole story. This was the story of Emmett Till with a twist. There was an added fictional character with his own background and conflicts; his name was Hiram Hillburn and he was the main character. Hiram was facing various problems. He turned 16 and went to pay his grandfather a visit in Mississippi. He realized what racism, segregation and integration all were. He now understood why his father hated the South and really didn’t want to let his son go. During Hiram’s stay he met a boy named Emmett. Emmett was from Chicago, visiting his uncle and cousins. The two interacted on two occasions: when they first met at the train station, and while Emmett was swimming with his cousins at the river. At the river is the last time Hiram would see Emmett alive. Emmett was brutally beaten, shot and drowned. Hiram involved himself with the case and went to court every day. Two men were on trial for the murder. The men were acquitted.
Root-A-Toot-Toot
By Anne Rockwell
Review by Tiana Gordon, 6
Hazel Crest
Stone Church Christian Academy
(Grande Prairie Public Library)
I enjoyed reading the book. It was about a little boy who played the flute that went “root-a-toot-toot” and met a dog (Bow-wow-wow), cat (Meow), donkey (Hee-haw), cow (Mooo) and the farmer and his wife. They all went home together following the little boy while he played beautiful music.
Tales of a 4th-Grade Nothing
By Judy Blume
Illustration by Michelle Moore, 10
Downers Grove
St. Mary of Gostyn School
Robinson Crusoe
By Daniel Defoe
Review by Aadil Bhatti, 10
Glenview
Glen Grove School
Robinson Crusoe was 18 and wanted to live a life at sea. It was the time of year that storms were at sea. Nevertheless, when his friend’s father was going on a voyage because he was a sailor, Robinson couldn’t resist the adventure. He took another adventure later. He never knew this was his best adventure yet. He was taken by pirates to Brazil and started Sugar Plantation. They asked Robinson if he could get slaves from Africa. When they were near the coast of South Brazil, a violent wave 30 feet high swallowed the whole ship. All of Robinson’s members had drowned, but lucky for Robinson, he was able to swim to an Antilles island. Kids should read this classic, detailed adventure.
Baby Brains
By Simon James
Review by Haripriya Mehta, 7
Des Plaines
Iroquois Community School
It is about a baby. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brains, want to have a smart baby so they did many things to make him smart. The baby is born! Mrs. Brains names him Baby Brains. Baby Brains reads the newspaper on the very next day of his birth and he does some other amazing things. He wants to go to school, then college and study medicine. He becomes a doctor and is very popular. Space scientists invite Baby Brains to their space mission. Baby Brains takes his very first space walk. A funny thing happens but I can’t tell you the ending. You have to read the book to find out. I love this book and the pictures because Baby Brains is smarter than me. I am older than him and he knows more things than I do. It is hilarious to see a baby in outer space.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
By Mark Twain
Review by Joe Taylor, 11
Hazel Crest
Parker Junior High
(Grande Prairie Public Library)
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a story about a boy who lives with his Aunt Polly in St. Petersburg, Mo. Tom goes on causing mischief with his best friend, Huckleberry Finn. Tom and Huck went through tons of adventures. Tom Sawyer painted a fence without actually painting it, got “engaged” and witnessed a murder of Doc Robinson by the evil Injun Joe, all in one book! Tom and Huck went to court to prove that the town drunkard was framed and innocent. But before that could be proven, Injun Joe escaped. Then Tom searched for Injun Joe’s treasure in MacDougal’s cave. Tom and Huck stole the money and quickly left the cave. When the friends got home they counted up $12,000!
Samantha Learns a Lesson
By Susan S. Adler
Review by Isabella Spinelli, 6
Willowbrook
Coonley School
(Indian Prairie Library)
The book “Samantha Learns a Lesson” is a must-read. It made me mad that children worked in factories in 1904. Could you imagine a 6-year-old child like me working in a factory? That is why I would like to tell other children about poor kids’ lives in America in 1904. Plus, I’m from China and I’m lucky that I’m now American. Some people still treat kids poorly today in different countries. I learned a lesson with Samantha that progress isn’t good when all of the world does not take care of their kids, even if they’re not their own!
The Cay
By Theodore Taylor
Review by Bertin Sanchez, 12
Chicago
Greene School
Can you imagine being stranded on an island while being blind? Phillip’s mother sails on a ship with him to get away from World War II. To their surprise, they are hit by a torpedo. Phillip’s stranded on an island with Timothy. They must learn to get along. There’s a catch too. Phillip is blind. Timothy has a sickness called malaria. It is a fever that makes him walk in his sleep. Timothy dies in a storm while trying to save Phillip. After the hurricane, Phillip must make a shelter, cook and do other important things to survive. Will he survive or be rescued? Read and find out!
A House of Tailors
By Patricia Reilly Giff
Review by Fabie Ezife, 9
Country Club Hills
Chateaux School
(Grande Prairie Public Library)
During the war against the French, Dina was mistaken as a French spy because she was taking a hat pattern somewhere. Dina almost got shot by her own soldiers but one soldier let her go free. When Dina returned home her sister Katharina got a letter saying that she could come to America to live with her uncle, but when her mother heard some soldiers were after Dina, she sent her instead. When Dina arrived in Brooklyn, N.Y., she helped her uncle with sewing in 1871.
Hatchet
By Gary Paulsen
Review by Lauren Barmore, 10
Crystal Lake
Woods Creek Elementary
If you like stories with lots of suspense, then this book is for you. The main character is a 13-year-old boy named Brian Robeson. His parents are divorced. The story starts with Brian flying on an airplane to see his dad. The pilot and Brian are the only people on the plane. Then suddenly, the pilot had a heart attack and the plane crashed. Brian is stranded in the woods with only his clothes, a torn windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present. Brian will have to find food, make a shelter and defend himself from all the animals that live in the woods. Will Brian survive–or won’t he?
Piano Lessons Can Be Murder
By R.L. Stine
Review by Vanessa Ambriz, 9
Chicago
Holden School
Everyone should read “Piano Lessons Can Be Murder.” It is the best book. You can get scared and be so frightened you won’t be able to move or do anything. When you get that book the only thing you will want to do is read, read and read. When you almost get to the end of the story it’s so scary you will just want to continue to see what happens to Jerry. The chapters are not too long. It’s so spooky when an old woman is playing the piano and Jerry sees the woman. If you want to know why, read the book.
Leon and the Spitting Image
By Allen Kurzweil
Review by Lauren Draftz, 11
Arlington Heights
Ivy Hill School
Leon Zeizel’s 4th-grade teacher is a sewing freak!! Her name is Miss Hagmeyer and she makes her class sew animiles (stuffed animals) stuffed with her pantyhose! “The Hag” (Miss Hagmeyer) treats Leon like he’s the biggest dummy she knows! By the end of the year the class must complete a masterpiece that will be their final. Leon created his masterpiece, an exact likeness of Miss Hagmeyer! He brought it to school to show to his friends Lily Matisse and P.W. Then the school bully ruins the masterpiece by pouring spit on it! Leon frantically tries to rub off the spit with the doll’s hand in class. Giggles erupted around him! Miss Hagmeyer was rubbing her stomach! Leon bent the doll’s arm and Miss Hagmeyer bent her arm. Read on and find out how the doll is affecting Miss Hagmeyer and if Leon passes final inspection.
White Star
By Marty Crisp
Review by Scott Schaefer, 10
Elmwood Park
Elmwood Elementary
The book “White Star” is a great book! The main character is Sam. He is about 12. He is going to America to go back home to stay with his parents. A lady is going with Sam during the trip. He walks dogs on the Titanic. One day at the kennel, he finds White Star. He is named White Star because he’s the president of the White Star Line’s dog. Sam loves this beautiful dog right away. He continues walking other dogs, but he spends the most time with Star. As the ship was sinking, Sam gets Star. Star runs down the deck and into the water. Star swims, dragging Sam to a lifeboat. At first people wouldn’t let them on, but eventually they did. They survived.
There’s a Big Beautiful World Out There
By Nancy Carlson
Review by Jimmy Pentuic, 7
Bradley
Bradley East School
I want to review “There’s a Big Beautiful World Out There” because I saw the author, Nancy Carlson, at the Printers Row Book Fair. She read us some of her books. This was not one of them. The reason I liked it is because it teaches not to be afraid (which I sometimes am). An example, if you hide under your covers you will miss clowns making you laugh “out loud.” Nancy Carlson is also an illustrator. All of her pictures look colorful and bright. She signed my book and wrote, “To Jimmy, enjoy your worlds!”
Homeless
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Review by Alexis Beedon, 9
Chicago
Holden School
Everyone should read “Homeless.” It’s about a girl named Sunita and she works at the vet with her friend’s grandmother. Sunita helps take care of sick animals. It’s a sad book. She helps treat puppies and some die. She helps to treat all sorts of animals. Sunita has a cat named Socrates. The most interesting part of the book is when he runs away. This is a sad, happy and great book to read. There are a lot more things going on but I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Gathering Blue
By Lois Lowry
Review by Janise Tucker, 11
Matteson
Indiana Elementary
(Matteson Public Library)
The book that I am about to tell you about was written by award-winning author Lois Lowry. Me, I like drama and this book is full of it, along with pride, humble-ness, hope and fear. Kira as a young girl is left to defeat the world by herself. With a father that’s died and a mother that’s died, what will she do? Along with neighbors who discard the weak, life is becoming harder for her. When she is called upon by the Council of Guardians, Kira is prepared to fight for her life. Surprisingly the council has a different plan for her. With only a little boy to talk with, Kira searches for the truth, and when she finds it, it changes her life forever.
A Mango-Shaped Space
By Wendy Mass
Review by Kelsey White, 13
Clarendon Hills
Clarendon Hills Middle School
Ever feel like you are so different, no one can relate? Then read Wendy Mass’ “A Mango-Shaped Space.” Mia is an average girl except for one thing–Mia sees colors. Lots of them. Not the boring colors we see, but beautiful, vibrant colors whenever she hears sounds. For example, people think she named her cat Mango because of his orange eyes, but she named him Mango because his meows are various shades of orange. I really enjoyed reading this book because Mia went through things most people do in middle school, only Mia has it twice as hard. Also, the story line is like nothing I have read before. The book was always interesting and I never got bored reading it. I think everyone should read this book because it’s not the same old mystery. I give it three thumbs up. “A Mango-Shaped Space” definitely earned a spot on my bookshelf.
Sort of Forever
By Sally Warner
Review by Vanessa Pena, 11
Chicago
Bateman School
Have you ever had a friend who had cancer? Well, if you have (and even if you haven’t), you should read “Sort of Forever” by Sally Warner to find out what it’s like. The character in “Sort of Forever” reminds me of a girl I used to know who had cancer. I would worry about her and ask if anything was bothering her. Luckily she no longer has cancer. I think “Sort of Forever” is a great example of how deep friendships can grow. Even though the book made me want to cry, it taught me that in the toughest of times, you can count on your friends. This realistic fiction book tells you exactly how it feels to be a victim of cancer. I recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a tough time.
Dragon Rider
By Cornelia Funke
Review by Katie Ashcraft, 10
Naperville
Watts School
Can a team made up of a homunculus, a brownie girl, a dragon and a boy possibly defeat the evil Nettlebrand, the Golden One? In this fantasy story the dragons must flee to the rim of heaven before the human race takes over their valley. On the way, Firedrake and Sorrel pick up a runaway child named Ben. They travel halfway across the world and encounter helpful sea serpents and Professor Barnabus Greenbloom. In this book there is adventure on every single page. “Dragon Rider” is a book that should be on every kid’s shelf.
Fat Kid Rules the World
By K.L. Going
Review by Bill Myers, 14
Hoffman Estates
Fremd High School
(Palatine Public Library)
“Would it be funny if the Fat Kid got splattered by a subway train?” In K.L. Going’s “Fat Kid Rules the World,” Troy Billings, a 296-pound 17-year-old, has dialogue that is very easy to relate to. He is the main character of the story and is seriously thinking about committing suicide. Curt McCrae, a legendary rock star who lives on the streets of New York, persuades Troy not to hurt himself. The two eventually become friends and Curt asks Troy to become the drummer of his new band. From there on, both of the characters have to deal with problems as Troy’s social life is drastically changing for the better, due to Curt’s help. In the end, though, Troy has to decide to step up to the plate and take a chance at being a rock star or chicken out and return to his miserable life. I thought this book was very funny and very realistic. It shows in entirety what some teenagers experience and how they work out their problems.
Fair Weather
By Richard Peck
Review by Brittany Morgan, 10
Channahon
Minooka Intermediate
If one is looking for a good book and a great adventure, read “Fair Weather.” The words become pictures themselves and boggle the mind into a trance. The location where the climax of the book takes place, Navy Pier, is a special place my dad and I love to visit often. My favorite character is a surprising one, Aunt Eurterpe. She is the instigator of this great adventure. The best part to me was when they went to the Buffalo Bill show and got to meet him, because of good old Tip, Grandad’s dog! I was always waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was unbearably suspenseful and agonizing for me to put the book down when I had to. I think Richard Peck picked a good slice of America’s grand history to write about.
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window
By Lemony Snicket
Review by Sarah Steffen, 9
Woodridge
Meadowview School
The best book ever is “A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window,” by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist. It’s about the Baudelaire orphans, named Sunny, Violet and Klaus. They go to their Aunt Josephine because the orphans’ parents die in a terrible fire. The children need to save Aunt Josephine from the evil Count Olaf. Count Olaf is trying to steal the Baudelaire fortune. Can they save their aunt?
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
By Ann Brashares
Review by Rachel Chang, 9
Vernon Hills
Diamond Lake School (Vernon Area Public Library)
This book is about four best friends splitting ways for their first summer. They find a pair of pants that fit them all, who are all different shapes and sizes. They send the pants for one week to each girl. They also wrote to each other when sending the pants. They wrote about what they did and how they were doing. In the end they got back together again and celebrated! My favorite part was when the four girls complimented one another about how good they looked in the special pants. I liked it because they were all so happy to be together, and figured out something special between them. This book is also a new movie. However, I liked the book much better than the movie because it gave much more detail about the girls’ travels and thoughts.
Science Verse
By Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Review by Nicky Keseric, 9
Hinsdale
Oak School
(Hinsdale Public Library)
There are lots of funny poems about science in this book. One of the funniest poems is about the Food Chain. A zebra is eating grass, and a lion eats the zebra. “Twas the Night” is a poem about the Big Bang Theory, but in this poem Santa sneezes and the universe is created. A cool CD with the authors talking is included. “Food Chain” sounds like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Everybody would love this funny book.
Gregor the Overlander
By Suzanne Collins
Review by Joseph Rajchwald, 10
Glenview
Glen Grove School
One day in New York City, Gregor and his little sister, Boots, fell in a hole in their laundry room, which led to an underground world called Regalia. In this world humans interact with giant bats and cockroaches. The humans, bats and the cockroaches are fighting a huge war with the rats. A long time ago in the underland, a man named Sandwich found Regalia and made prophecies. When Gregor learned that one of the prophecies involved him, he had to fulfill it. The prophecy said that he had to do it with two humans, three bats, two cockroaches, one rat and two spiders. Also when his dad disappeared two years ago, he learned that the rats captured his dad. They venture through all of the underland to find Gregor’s dad and to fulfill the prophecy.
I, Freddy
By Dietlof Reiche
Review by Madison Weatherly, 8 Chicago
Sacred Heart School
I think “I, Freddy,” by Dietlof Reiche, is a very funny book because Freddy, the golden hamster, wants to learn to read and write on a typewriter. I also think the illustrations by Joe Cepeda are cool because they look like comics. The main characters are Freddy, the adventurous golden hamster; William, the wise old tomcat; and the very annoying guinea pig poets, Enrico and Caruso. My favorite part of the story was when they sang a welcome song to Freddy. This is how some of it goes: “A hamster doesn’t sing, it squeaks and stuffs its cheeks with fodder until it swells up like a balloon. No creature could look odder.” Please read this book–it’s the best!
Van Helsing
By Kevin Ryan
Review by Tom Meyer, 11
Glenview
Glen Grove School
Van Helsing is a monster hunter. He has been in the service of doing this for seven years. He cannot remember who he was before the seven years of service. He is trying to figure out his past by going after dangerous villains and hoping they have answers to tell him before Van Helsing kills them. He has not found any information until . . . Three days after he killed Mr. Hyde he went back to his job for a new assignment. He was assigned to his greatest assignment yet. He had to head to Transylvania, Romania. He had to defeat the dangerous person called Dracula before the Valerious members get killed. Only one Valerious is left. Her name is Anna. When Van Helsing goes there he meets many obstacles to get to Dracula, like Dracula’s three brides, a wolf man and other creatures.
