Here is the final installment of kids’ book reviews and drawings for this year’s Read & Write project. Many thanks to the hundreds of young people who took the time to tell us about a favorite book. We wish there had been space to print everything we received. Here’s to the many good books you’ll read this school year and beyond.
The Wright 3
By Blue Balliett
This book is about three children who want to save the Robie House, a landmark in Hyde Park. They get this idea to save the house when their teacher reads them an article from the Chicago Tribune about how the Robie House will be cut into sections and sent to museums around the world. This book is called “The Wright Three” because the main characters are three children–Tommy, Calder and Petra–and the architect of the Robie House is Frank Lloyd Wright. I liked the illustrations done by Brett Helquist. He puts clues in his illustrations. I liked this book because it was adventurous, fun and the setting was in my hometown, Chicago!
–Kathleen McGivney, 10, Chicago, Christ the King School
The Care & Keeping of You
By Valorie Lee Schaefer
This book is about how girls’ bodies change, and tells girls what they should do in a time of need. It also helps all girls not to be scared of what can happen. It tells us all about growing up and that all girls go through this process. It teaches you hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples. Reading this book lets me want to talk to my mother more about my body changes. I think other girls will enjoy this book as much as I did!
–Valiyah Barnes, 10, Crete, Balmoral Elementary (Grande Prairie Public Library)
Zoey 101: Girls Got Game
By Dan Schneider
This book is about boys who say the girls can’t play basketball at their school, Pacific Coast Academy. They have a competition and the girls WIN! The boys are MAD! I like this book because it tells me that girls could win basketball against boys. Just don’t be afraid and say, “I don’t want to play because I’m not going to win.” You might win against a boy someday. I play really well now but I’ve never won basketball against a boy. But I keep trying. The other thing I liked was that even though the boys and girls got mad they still were able to stay friends. It just took a while to get over being mad.
–Kiarra Sartin, 10, Chicago, St. Angela School
Morgans
By Victor Gentle
Did you know that Morgan horses carry their heads high? This is one out of the many exciting facts you can learn in the book “Morgans.” This absorbing book is organized into chapters about the history, characteristics and amazing contributions of Morgan horses. I learned that during the Civil War, soldiers used Morgan horses because they were so calm. If they heard a bullet sound they wouldn’t go crazy from it like other breeds would. Something fascinating that I found out was that Morgan horses are even movie stars! Now I know that the Morgan horse weighs up to 900 pounds. I found it captivating that a foal can run about two hours after its birth. Horse lovers and future veterinarians should pick up “Morgans” today!
–Wendy Roldan, 11, Chicago, Bateman School
White Fang
By Jack London
“White Fang” is a thrilling story about two men who are out in the wild trying to survive. They fall upon a pack of she-wolves and then the story of “White Fang” begins. White Fang is a pup of a she-wolf. Her mother was sold to an Indian. White Fang stayed with his master, Grey Beaver, who taught Fang to become mean. Fang kills other dogs. There are some sad parts in the book, like the killing of other dogs and the fighting that they do. This book describes in detail what happens to the wolves and it’s a bit gross, yet you still want to read on. It is a book for kids over the age of 10 who can understand animal life in the wild.
–Joseph Infelise, 14, Carol Stream, Stradford Middle School
Countess Veronica
By Nancy K. Robinson
“Countess Veronica” is a fantastic book that tells kids like me that it’s not up to us to make decisions for our parents about their lives. I found out how Veronica feels about her parents’ divorce and that even though her parents may not be completely truthful, they still love her. Veronica is a beginner at chess and wants to impress Count Charleton, a famous chess player. He proposes to her mother. Her dad, Lorenzo, lives in Santa Barbara. Miss Markham is the librarian and Veronica gets the idea that she would be a good wife for him. Veronica Schmidt is like me–a smart young girl who likes to know about everything and wants to have things her way.
–Jazmine Jones, 11, Chicago, St. Angela School
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
By E.L. Konigsburg
Claudia always wanted to run away from home because she did not feel appreciated. So she and her brother Jamie ran away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There they find themselves in a mystery about a statue and its owner. Desperately trying to reveal the secret, they meet a charming and mysterious woman who knows the answer but is not going to tell them the answer unless they use their own minds and her mixed-up files to solve it. A wonderful novel of mystery, friendship and teamwork.
–Alisa Khananashvili, 10, Glenview, Glen Grove School
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
I’m Jewish. I know a lot about the Holocaust. In my Hebrew school they teach us everything there is to know except for one thing–the emotion. I wasn’t in the Holocaust. No one that was in the Holocaust ever told me what they did; how it felt. After my teacher read this book to my class, I really understood how people escaped and how so many people helped them. Annamarie is such a powerful character who cares so much about other people. It touched my heart to know that so many other people cared about my people. We live in a world of terrible things, but sometimes you have to find a tiny light inside of you. This book turned on my light and made it even bigger. This book is truly beautiful.
–Shira Fishbach, 10, Chicago, University of Chicago Laboratory School
No Excuses
By Kyle Maynard
Who is Kyle Maynard? He was born with a disorder that made him have arms that end at the elbows, and severely shortened legs–and yet he’s a wrestling champion. He decided not to get prosthetics, allowing him to move more freely. He lives life like anybody else except that he mostly uses a wheelchair. His philosophy, “no excuses,” means that no matter how badly he performs, he won’t complain about it. The first season and a half he wrestled, he won 0 matches. Yet he never once complained about losing, and never quit. The book contains a lesson we can all use in our lives: to persevere. Kyle Maynard is truly an amazing person, whose book will truly inspire you to follow your dreams, no matter what challenges you may face.
–Zach Tieke, 10, Hinsdale, Monroe School (Hinsdale Public Library)
The Wedding Planner’s Daughter
By Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Willa Havisham, age 12, moves to Bramble, Cape Cod, with her single mother, Stella. Her mother, a famous wedding planner, uses 12 secret ingredients to plan a perfect wedding. After her own husband died, she has never been able to trust herself to fall in love again. While planning a wedding for two soap opera celebrities, something terrible goes wrong and it’s all Willa’s fault! Could all of Willa’s hopes and dreams be crushed? Just when Willa thought that she would finally get a new father, had found her best friend, and even had a boy who liked her, Stella decides to move them away again. Coleen Murtagh Paratore is able to use descriptions in her story that paint a picture of this young girl’s need to make her mom feel happy and to love again.
–Cassandra Cowperthwaite, 9, Lake Villa, Thompson School (Lake Villa Library)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
By Scott O’Dell
Do you want to read a book that has animals and Indians, and different feelings in it like happiness, then sadness, loneliness and then joy? The perfect book for you is “Island of the Blue Dolphins.” It’s mainly about a girl named Karana and how, because of not [wanting to] leave her brother alone, she is left on an island with her brother. She is able to survive through all seasons and all sorts of problems until she is taken back to her family. “Island of the Blue Dolphins” teaches you that not everything in your life is given to you, but sometimes you have to hunt for it.
–Margarita Ruiz, 12, Chicago, Hibbard School
Who was Ben Franklin?
By Dennis Brindell Fradin
You should read “Who was Ben Franklin?” because you learn a lot about him. He discovered electricity by flying a kite with a key on the bottom. He could have electrocuted himself! He was the first postmaster, and started the first library and fire department. That’s why this book is important.
–Sean Naughton, 7, Mundelein, Hawthorn Townline School
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
By Mildred D. Taylor
If you’re looking for a wonderful and well-written book, you’ve come to the right place! “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” is based upon a family that lives in Mississippi. This family is African-American and has to face discrimination. It is set in Cassie Logan’s perspective. During the book, Cassie learns that there are many racist people and life will not be fair for her. In fact, life isn’t fair for any of the African-Americans in this novel. There is a separate school for the black students too. As the amount of money in the Logan family gets short and work is harder, they all struggle. But, with the love the family has towards each other, they get through it.
–Sophie Bushong, 13, Wheaton, Franklin Middle School
Rosa, Sola
By Carmela A. Martino
Rosa was a child from an Italian family. It was a very sad book and it made me cry. Rosa wanted a sibling just like her friends. When the baby came, it was born dead. Rosa was very sad. The family solves problems together and helps together. The good [part] is that Rosa spelled “f-o-r-e-i-gn-e-r” at the spelling bee. Patrick spelled it “f-o-r-e-g-n-e-r.” Rosa knows how to spell “foreigner” because she WAS a foreigner herself! She won the spelling bee. I learned that when someone cries about a book it’s a very good book!
–Alex Krysl, 7, Park Ridge, Field School
Turn Homeward, Hannalee
By Patricia Beatty
I’m not a big fan of history, but the way Patricia Beatty wrote “Turn Homeward, Hannalee” really helped me to enjoy it. It is a great, historical adventure story about a 12-year-old mill hand girl named Hannalee Reed whose older brother, Davey, fought in the Civil War for the Confederate Army. Hannalee, her younger brother, Jem, and Davey’s true love, Rosellen, were taken away from their home in Georgia by the Union Army to work in Yankee mills. Mrs. Reed gave Hannalee a persimmon-seed button from her dress for Hannalee to remember to return home no matter what. “Turn your heart to me. Turn homeward, Hannalee!” were Mrs. Reed’s words to Hannalee before the Yankees took them away. Will they stay together throughout their journey? Will Hannalee return home?
–Shontavia Weatherly, 11, Markham, Calvin Christian School
The Little Mermaid
By Michael Teitelbaum
I love this story because when I was a little girl my mother would read the story to me every day and I would never get sick of it. I love the part when Ariel is on the big rock looking out into the ocean. When I was a little girl I had a really, really big pool and I used to pretend that I was a little mermaid like in the book and the movie. As I became older I realized that mermaids weren’t real, so I started to read other books. This tale is still my favorite. What I do is, I tell stories to other little children so that they can have a big imagination like I did and still have.
–Victoria Cruz, 14, Chicago, Addams School
When My Name was Keoko
By Linda Sue Park
When we recall WWII, we think of the Germans and Nazis. In this book, there is a different perspective of this war and [it] takes place in Korea. A young girl and boy named Sun-Hee and Tae-Yul are living in Korea while Japan is ruling them. New, unfair laws are passed that Koreans must only speak Japanese and change their names to Japanese names. Sun-Hee and Tae-Yul were then Keoko and Nabou. Keoko’s brother joins the Japanese only to put food on the table for his family. He is assigned as a kamikaze, a suicidal pilot that crashes into American ships. He doesn’t know if he should blow up the Americans or not, the very people that everyone says murder Asians, and also his family is worried sick about him. Read this story about the hardships of Koreans facing injustice persecution, illegal acts, and death . . . everywhere.
–Nathan Ro, 11, Glenview, Glen Grove School
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