In the spring we invited young readers to tell us about a great book by writing a short review or drawing a picture about it for our annual Read & Write project. We received several hundred terrific reviews and drawings, and will be publishing some here every week through Sept. 1.
For our librarians’ list of 100 fun summertime books for kids, please visit chicagotribune.com/books.
Running Out of Time
By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Review by Willa Sachs, 13, Chicago
St. Andrew School
You probably think that the world you’re living in is exactly as it seems: So does Jessie Kaiser, until she discovers that she’s living inside a tourist attraction set in the 1800s — and that it’s actually 1996.
“Running Out of Time” explores the idea that sometimes things aren’t as innocent as they seem. Children trapped inside are suffering from diphtheria. [But] the founder of the tourist attraction has decided that since there was no cure for diphtheria then, no cure will be provided. Jessie must venture out to the real world and find modern medicine.
I love this book because there’s never a dull moment, and it challenges the idea that everything is — or should be — the way it seems.
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
By Chris Crutcher
Review by Danielle DiCristofano, 12, Park Ridge
Emerson Middle School
Trust — the main ingredient in true friendships. Sarah Byrnes didn’t trust anyone her whole life because of something shocking her father did to her when she was 3. Since Sarah’s face was scarred, it was hard for her to make friends, so Eric stayed fat so she wouldn’t be the only misfit. This book showed me how true friends act toward each other.
Zink
By Cherie Bennett
Review by Lydia Lutz, 10, Glenview
Glen Grove School
Warning! If you start reading “Zink,” you may not be able to stop. “Zink” is a fantasy about a girl named Becky who is diagnosed with leukemia but finds hope when she befriends a trio of zebras who were sent by their herd to help her. Throughout the story, Becky and the zebras are magically transported between the hospital and Africa. Ms. Bennett uses Becky’s adventures and her journal to help the reader understand Becky’s emotions. As you read, you feel scared and sorry for her when she’s feeling sick, and excited and happy when she receives good news from the doctors. The author also gives each of the characters — even the zebras — a unique personality and creates events in the story that reflect each of the character’s distinctive traits. “Zink” is a touching story of friendship and courage.
Listening for Lions
By Gloria Whelan
Review by Gabby Riek, 12, Elmhurst
Bryan Middle School
Rachel Sheridan is the daughter of two missionaries stationed in Africa. Rachel’s mother is a teacher, and her father is a doctor who built his own hospital. Both of Rachel’s parents die of the flu in 1919. After that she goes to live with the greedy neighbors that only want her to take the place of their daughter, who had also died of the flu. Rachel is sent to England to stay with the neighbors’ grandfather and is supposed to try to convince him to give his estate to Rachel’s neighbors. Instead she encourages his idea to give the estate to a bird society. The whole time Rachel is in England she wants to tell someone who she really is but is afraid to go to an orphanage. Rachel’s dream is to get back home to Africa. This book was really entertaining and it kept me reading.
Hiccup
By Taylor Jordan
Review by Kyesha Harris, 8, Chicago
St. Angela School
A good book to read is “Hiccup.” This book is about how a hippopotamus wanted his hiccups to go away. He tried to hold his breath, but it did not work. His little sister scared him, but it did not work. She gave him water, but it did not work. The funniest part is when he put on a chicken suit. It is a good book to read because it will make you laugh.
The Giver
By Lois Lowry
Review by Ashley Cooper, 13, Frankfort
Summit Hill Junior High School
“The Giver” is a very ironic and unique book. It makes you think things that would have never come to mind before. Things like, would you really want a perfect world? Also, how would the world be different if everything that you had to do was set in stone? Jonas, the main character, lives in a world like that and that has no colors. I give this book a five-star rating for being so original.
The Phantom Tollbooth
By Norton Juster
Review by Nici Marasa, 12, Elgin
Timber Trails School, Gail Borden Public Library
“The Phantom Tollbooth” is about a boy named Milo. His life is so boring and dull. One day after school he finds a weird tollbooth in the middle of his room, so he takes his cool little car and drives through. Suddenly he finds himself in a different world. He meets odd people and goes to weird places like “Conclusions.” He meets Tock, a watchdog. They go on an adventure to free Rhyme and Reason to save the land. This was one of my favorite books of my school year. It is full of adventure and excitement.
Acceleration
By Graham McNamee
Review by Siddhant Khaitan, 13, Bloomingdale
Stream Middle School
Duncan was just an Average Joe. But then it all went wrong. “Acceleration” is an action-packed thriller that fuses cunning with horrifying suspense. This unnerving book will capture your brain with bloodcurdling scenes. With a crazy serial killer on the loose, Duncan must uncover the true identity of the killer before it’s too late. The book begins with a slow start but then builds into astonishing suspense which makes this book the best of its genre. This book also shows how one mistake can ruin someone’s entire life and career.
Slam
By Walter Dean Myers
Review by John Hughes, 14, Chicago
St. Angela School
The book is about a teenager named Greg Harris who has the moves on the basketball court but not in school. Greg is the king of the basketball court, 6-foot-4, dribbles like a pro and has his own nickname, “Slam.” His new school, Latimer, has him twisting in circles, and teachers are all over his back. Greg has to fight to get good grades and be even better to get on the Latimer basketball team. Greg’s dream is to make the pros. And marry his dream girl, Mtisha, though after being beaten up by a group of thugs his dreams may be fading away. I recommend this book to people who enjoy basketball, toughness, and who are going to a new school.
Gregor and the Code of Claw
By Suzanne Collins
Review by Carlos Maxwell, 10, Morton Grove
Park View School
When 12-year-old Gregor the Overlander journeys to the Underland, he is met with a great shock: A prophesy involving him, the Warrior, says Gregor will die. So Gregor gathers up his courage and fights to defend the Underland city of Regalia. His goal: to kill the 14-foot-tall rat called the Bane. The entire existence of the Underland rests in Gregor’s hands. Will he save the Underland or die trying?
Shampoozel
By Laurence Anholt
Review by Lineth Mendoza,10, Chicago
Falconer School
My favorite book is “Shampoozel” because I like humorous books. The story is about an old man named Dan Druff who owned a barber shop, and this girl named Tam O’Tei who lived upstairs. They got married, had their first child and named her Shampoozel. They forgot all about the wicked witch . . .
The Lost Flower Children
By Janet Taylor Lisle
Review by Julia Simon, 11, Evanston
Baker Demonstration School
After Olivia and Nellie’s mother dies, they’re sent to live with their Great Aunt Minty. She owns an overgrown garden. One day Nellie finds a story about Aunt Minty’s garden: It is about kids who turned into flowers. The only way they will turn back into kids is if you can find a set of china in Aunt Minty’s flower bed and place it on a table. The author really made the story seem real. A very original idea, the book is full of clever ideas.
Go Dog Go
By P.D. Eastman
Review by Royal Daniel, 5, Country Club Hills
Homewood Community Academy, Grande Prairie Public Library
Dogs are cool, and there are many dogs in this story: Dogs that can drive and stop at red lights. Dogs that can ride in a helicopter over a tree. Dogs that swim and ride roller-coasters. Some dogs even played baseball, and some dogs can ski up high slopes. Some dogs can dig, and some dogs can ride in a boat playing checkers. These dogs went everywhere and did a lot of things. They even had parties.
The Wedding Planner’s Daughter
By Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Review by Olivia Peera, 10, Glenview
Glen Grove School
“The Wedding Planner’s Daughter” four is a story that you would like to read over and over again because it fills your heart with sadness, then complete joy. It is a book that you really should read because it teaches you that after something really bad happens, good things will always come after. It surprises you, it has some twists and turns that make this a very enjoyable story. I definitely recommend it to all of the girl readers that enjoy books about life.
The Landry News
By Andrew Clements
Review by Christy Koshy, 13, Tinley Park
Summit Hill Junior High School
“The Landry News” is an inspiring book about how Cara Landry, a daring and eager journalist, finds out that people at her school aren’t giving her the reaction she expected. Read and find out how this young journalist becomes more than what she expected herself to be. The book “The Landry News” will inspire you to go for your dreams.
Make Way for Ducklings
By Robert McCloskey
Review by Ryan Murphy, 7, Chicago
St. Angela School
My favorite book is “Make Way for Ducklings.” It was good. I cried when the baby duckling came out of its eggshell. I liked the part when they were walking in the street. This book won a medal. You have to read it!
Beacon Street Girls: Letters From the Heart
By Annie Bryant
Review by Samantha Kosloske, 11, Chicago
Alcott School
This book is about Maeve Kaplan-Taylor and her best friend, Avery Madden, Their world gets turned upside-down, just like that. Both girls are going through big changes and get into trouble. My favorite part was in the middle when one trouble leads to another and you don’t know what could happen next. Will separation, animal trouble and the Queens of Mean ruin everything for the Beacon Street Girls?
