We recently invited kids to tell us about a favorite book by writing a review or drawing a picture. Among the hundreds of pieces of fine work they sent in, we noted some book authors–Lois Lowry, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Avi, to name a few–whose work apparently struck a chord with many of our book reviewers. To see previous reviews and a list of 100 great summer books, visit chicagotribune.com/books.
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Review by Monica Martinez, 10, Chicago
Monroe School
“Number the Stars” is an amazing book that takes place during World War II. The Johansen family had to find a way to smuggle the Rosens to Sweden without getting captured by the Nazi soldiers. Annemarie, Ellen and Kirsti faced guard dogs, soldiers and fish-skin shoes! Lois Lowry has done an amazing job making the book seem like a real experience. Kirsti seems like a typical little sister; Ellen is a wonderful actress. And last but not least, Annemarie is brave but doesn’t know it. This book will make you melancholy, happy and proud. There’s loyalty, bravery and friendship in it too.
Hurt Go Happy
By Ginny Rorby
Review by Megan Warshawsky, 11, Glenview
Glen Grove School
Joey Willis is 70 percent deaf. When Joey meets Charlie, a neighbor, she also meets Sukari, Charlie’s baby chimpanzee. Sukari is raised as a child would be raised, and communicates in sign language. When Charlie has a terrible accident, opportunities and grief flood Joey. She is allowed to attend a school for the deaf at no cost, and she becomes the owner of Sukari. When Joey can’t take care of Sukari anymore, she has one option. … The reader is put in Joey’s position and experiences that life is not always fair, but we have the power to make it better.
Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective Series: The Headless Mummy
By Dave Keane
Review by Ethan Huskey, 8, Waukesha, Wis.
Randall Elementary
The Joe Sherlock series are some of the best books I ever read because it is very unpredictable how he solves each mystery. In “The Headless Mummy” he solves it in one crazy way involving butter lettuce! The characters are Joe, who is the detective; Hailey, Joe’s sister who sometimes helps but can be a pest; and Vince, Joe’s friend who is lazy and when Joe asks for help he is mostly watching TV with his grandma or playing a video game. I am guessing kids ages 6-10 who like humor should read this awesome series.
Freak the Mighty
By Rodman Philbrick
Review by Vinny Kabat, 10, Morton Grove
Park View School
“Freak the Mighty” is a heart-warming story about two friends, Max and Kevin, who face a difficult life until they meet. Max, the “seemingly brainless giant,” has been ostracized because of his size and because he is not smart. Kevin, the “Einstein brain,” has been made fun of because he is so tiny but smart. These two children learn that they have something in common; they are both different from other children and are called “Freaks.” After becoming friends, Kevin and Max go to a Fourth of July parade. However, Kevin can’t see anything, so Max lifts him up on his shoulders. That’s how all their other adventures begin, with Kevin on Max’s shoulders.
Walk Two Moons
By Sharon Creech
Review by Allison Proffitt, 13, Downers Grove
Herrick Middle School
When a peculiar country girl with a complex past gets hurled into a plain school in a new town with lots of less-than-sane oddballs, she has a right to be rather befuddled. Phoebe Winterbottom is one of those oddballs. This new friend helps Sal, the main character and narrator, get into a wild adventure that takes each page to solve.
Now & Ben
By Gene Barretta
Review by Sophia Ward, 8, Chicago
Blaine School
Can you imagine inventing something that your great-great-great-great-granddaughter would use? That’s what this book is all about. Benjamin Franklin designed bifocals and helped learn more about electricity. He also helped with the Declaration of Independence. He was a printer, musician, scientist, traveler and cartoonist. He was at least seven more things. You would have to read the book to find out what other inventions and jobs he did.
Fearless Girls, Wise Women, & Beloved Sisters
By Kathleen Ragan
Review by Ava Pace, 12, Park Ridge
Emerson Middle School
“Fearless Girls” is a collection of folk tales from around the world that focus on women and their strengths. They use their strengths to get out of different situations. After each folk tale is a comment by Kathleen Ragan which connects the story to a different story or to real life. I would suggest this book to anyone who, like me, is tired of the innocent princesses who can’t defend themselves in the more-popular fairy tales.
A House for Hermit Crab
By Eric Carle
Review by Tyree Fincher, 7, Chicago
St. Angela School
My favorite book is “A House for Hermit Crab.” I learned about lanternfish that can light up. When I saw that lanternfish I thought it was amazing. This is a wonderful book about sea creatures.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
By Mildred D. Taylor
Review by Olabimi Tella, 13, Chicago
St. Mary of the Lake School
“Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” is about a poor African-American family struggling to survive during the Great Depression. The Logan family is forced to put up with brutal racist attacks, poverty and betrayal in Mississippi. The first time I saw this book, I judged it by its cover and didn’t read it. When I was eventually forced to read it at school, I found that it was quite interesting. Some of the Logan family members reminded me of my own family: Each of my siblings has a different personality.
Mathematicians Are People Too
By Luetta Reimer and Wilbert Reimer
Review by Bhagirath Mehta, 7, Des Plaines
Iroquois Community School
This book is about the lives of great mathematicians from different centuries and countries, like Pythagoras, Galileo, Hypatia and Einstein. Three-year-old [Carl Friedrich] Gauss was once watching his father count money to give to his workers. Gauss told his father he had made a mistake. Mr. Gauss checked and found that his son was right. In another story, Maria Agnesi solved a difficult algebra problem in her sleep. I like this book because all the mathematicians were different but they had two things in common–curiosity and determination, just like me.
A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo
By Geronimo Stilton
Review by Stephanie Lawrence, 9, Grayslake
Meadowview School, Grayslake Public Library
This is a story about a mouse named Geronimo Stilton. Geronimo can’t wait for his vacation. Ms. Sweetpaws kept giving him places to go, but he kept missing his plane because he was sick, saving someone or forgot.
Drama High: The Fight
By L. Divine
Review by Mia Sartin, 13, Chicago
St. Angela School
This book caught my attention very quickly. It’s about a teenage girl named Jayd Jackson. Although Jayd is having a lot of problems, the worst is her boyfriend cheating on her with one of her old friends. Another problem is that Jayd is black and she goes with a white boy. Everyone is treating her differently now. What I learned from this story is that you shouldn’t always listen to what your friends say because they can give you terrible advice. I also learned that when God blesses you with something good, you’ll find out who your real friends are.
Shiloh Season
By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Review by Jared Anthony Walsh, 8, St. Charles
Lily Lake Elementary
This story is about a boy named Marty and how he got his dog, Shiloh. Marty got to have Shiloh after he worked for Judd for 10 weeks. Judd almost hit Shiloh with his truck after he was drinking, but then he turned off to the side of the road and hit a pothole. I liked this book because it helped me learn that you should not drink when you are driving.
The Mayor of Central Park
By Avi
Review by Joey Morris, 11, Chicago
Alcott School
This book is about a squirrel named Oscar Westerwit. He is the mayor of Central Park and shortstop for the Central Park Green Sox. What Oscar doesn’t know is that Big Daddy Duds and the rats are taking over Central Park. Now Oscar is growing a rebellion to chase the rats away. I think the book is amazing! It’s exciting and intense. I also think that Avi was brilliant for using animals instead of people. Also, the use of sports and wars with a mix of social life.
Olive’s Ocean
By Kevin Henkes
Review by Adira Levine, 12, Chicago
Bell Regional Gifted Center
Dealing with the complications of growing up, “Olive’s Ocean” grasps the reader from the opening dialogue. Every girl can see a bit of herself in main character Martha Boyle, who struggles to come to terms with the sudden death of Olive Barstow, a peer she barely knew. Discovering secrets she and Olive shared but never recognized, Martha must learn to value the meaning of her own life, and accept the guilt of not having befriended Olive. Martha must find a way to honor Olive’s memory. In doing so, she and the reader learn about life, all that it encompasses, and death.
The Janitor’s Boy
By Andrew Clements
Review by Tom Griffin, 12, Lemont
Old Quarry Middle School
“The Janitor’s Boy” was not my favorite book. The New York Times raved that it was “the perfect book,” but I thought it was anything but perfect. It was about a boy named Jack and how he tried to sabotage his father. It ends up backfiring and then he gets into a whole mess of trouble with the principal.
John, who is Jack’s father, is the janitor at his school, and it is embarrassing for him to watch his dad clean up after everyone else and the other kids make fun of him for that. Now Jack wants revenge.
First, there is the desk that Jack sabotages. He tries to make a desk so messed up that the janitor will have to clean. It was almost like, why would he even think about doing that to his own dad? I mean, I know he’s angry and all, but still, his own dad? That just blows my mind. That is just one problem with this book–it makes it off as if he absolutely despises his dad and it makes me mad seeing his dad get treated like this.
The only part in this book that I think I liked was the end, when Jack and his father finally see “eye to eye” or cross “boy territory,” as Jack’s mother calls it. It was nice to see that that family was even capable of getting along with each other and actually acting like a real family. Plus the book finally ended.
