We recently invited schoolkids to share their thoughts on favorite books by taking part in our annual Read & Write series. Readers as young as 5 and as old as 15 responded with drawings and reviews reflecting on the books’ lessons, storylines and characters. We received enough wonderful submissions to fill an entire newspaper, and have highlighted many of them here and online, every Saturday this month.
Visit chicagotribune.com/read&write to see the reviews and our librarians’ list of 100 fun summertime books for kids.
It Can’t Hurt Forever
By Marilyn Singer
Review by Esther Taiwo, 13, Chicago
St. Mary of the Lake School
This book is based on a true story. This heart-warming story is about 11-year-old Ellie, who describes her experience during 12 days of hospitalization for heart surgery. What I liked most about this book is how she showed no fear on the outside, but at the same time she is shivering with terror on the inside. It is like she has two different faces — a terrified face and a valiant face. Other people should read this book because it helps them know that they aren’t the only people who suffer. Even though they ache, there is always someone who will be in more agony than you are in. People will think “if an 11-year-old girl can do it, so can I.”
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Review by Brendan Hagn, 11, Lake in the Hills
Martin School
This book was really heartfelt. One example of how it touched my heart was when Annemarie (the main character) ran into soldiers many, many times and risked her life. This book was very adventurous. For example, Ellen and her family were hiding from the government so they would not be persecuted for their religious beliefs. The writer kept me interested throughout the book.
Matilda
By Roald Dahl
Review by Lameese Hassen, 12, Tinley Park
Grissom Middle School
I like this book because it’s about a girl whose parents don’t realize what a smart girl she is. I also like that she has special powers. Her real parents are cruel, awful people. Matilda realizes that she is a special person no matter how much her parents don’t care for her.
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
By Walter Dean Myers
Review by Karl Montoya, 10, Libertyville,
Aspen School
This is a great World War II historical fiction book. It tells about his journey across Europe fighting Germans, seeing friends die and kidnapping a German soldier. Reading it is not just a sit-down thriller, it’s a sit-down learner too. This book really helps you understand the pain and gore of the war.
The Golem’s Eye
By Jonathan Stroud
Review by Evan Decker, 13, Wheaton
Franklin Middle School
This is the second book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy. It’s an interesting book because it changes the point of views between the main characters. It’s set in present-day London. There are three main characters: Nathaniel (also known as John Mandrake), Kitty and Bartimaeus.
Clara Caterpillar
By Pamela Duncan Edwards
Review by Jonasia P. Shelton, 7, Chicago
St Angela School
I like when she turned into a butterfly. I love the book.
Aquamarine
By Alice Hoffman
Review by Joyce Pozniak, 11, Oak Brook
Belle Aire School
I would recommend this book because it is funny. Aquamarine is a mermaid, and when she comes out of the pool, she turns into a real girl. However, if she gets wet, she turns back into a mermaid. You will have to read this book to find out what happens when Aquamarine is seen as a mermaid. This was a great romantic story that would be great to read at the park or at the pool.
Flush
By Carl Hiaasen
Review by Emma Wittle, 13, Tinley Park
Summit Hill Junior High
This is a funny, exciting and suspenseful book that you won’t want to put down. It is about a boy whose dad is constantly getting in trouble with the police. The dad gets in trouble for “going too far” when he believes something isn’t right. Noah and his sister, Abbey, are determined to prove their dad is right.
Avalon High
By Meg Cabot
Review by Katie Coy, 12, Wheaton
Franklin Middle School
If you like Medieval tales of King Arthur, this is the story for you! This story is told by a girl named Elaine (Ellie) Harrison, an athletic girl whose parents are professors studying Medieval times. I promise there will be plenty of laughs and a nail-biting climax!
Sounder
By William H. Armstrong
Review by David Durkins, 11, Chicago
St. Angela School
This story was about a black family in hard times. I think that most people should read this book because it tells how blacks and whites had issues with each other. This story taught me a lot about many of the hardships that blacks faced years ago. I realized how lucky I am to live in the time I do. As an African-American, I’m glad to know there are books that teach about the struggles blacks faced.
The Gingerbread Man
By Jim Aylesworth
Review by Jamil Whitehead, 7, Matteson
Woodgate School
You must read this book because it is silly. I like this book because the fox eats the gingerbread man.
My Father’s Dragon
By Ruth Stiles Gannet
Review by Matthew Gardner, 8, Chicago
St. Angela School
This book is about a boy who meets a cat that tells him about a baby dragon that is a slave. It is a good book because it shows that every person should be free.
Uglies
By Scott Westerfeld
Review by Emma Menich, 12, Mt. Prospect
Lincoln Junior High
This is an exhilarating story about friendship and adventure. Tally Youngblood, an adventurous, brave and curious girl is just about to become ‘pretty.’ This is everything she has been waiting for. Her whole life would change from everything being ugly, to everything being beautiful. But then she runs into a girl named Shay. Shay doesn’t want to become a pretty and runs away. Now Tally has to make a decision: She could either become a pretty and betray her best friend, or stay an ugly forever.
Don’t Look Behind You
By Lois Duncan
Review by Marissa Cozzi, 13, Des Plaines
Friendship Junior High
This book is about a girl named April Corrigan and her entire life has now become a total lie. The entire family becomes involved in the Witness Protection Program to protect her from an evil man named Mike Vamp who wants to hurt them. This book is filled with suspense, suspicion and a little bit of adventure.
Sand Dollar Summer
By Kimberly K. Jones
Review by Yamilax Abrago, 11, Chicago
Monroe School
This book is about this girl named Annalise who goes to Maine for the summer because her mom was in a car accident. Annalise doesn’t like it at all. Later she starts to like it. This book is so special to me. When I went to Mexico for the first time I felt very weird, like Annalise. The book was gloomy, but very exciting.
Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer
Review by Katy Bennett, 13, Wheaton
Franklin Middle School
A teenager named Bella moves to a small town in Washington, called Forks, to live with her dad. Bella meets a mysterious boy, Edward, that she just cannot seem to figure out. It turns out he and his family are vampires! They quickly fall in love. This book puts a twist in modern romances and I loved it!
Four Perfect Pebbles
By Lila Perl and Marion Blumenthal Lazan
Review by Krisha Ramirez, 12, Chicago
Portage Park School
The book was special to me because it was an interesting story about what happened during the Holocaust and why. What really got my attention was how many Jews Hitler killed. I was impressed by how determined the main character, Marion, was in finding all four pebbles so she and her family would survive the Holocaust. Just thinking about the book and how everything really happened in real life makes me think twice about judging people by their race.
The Outsiders
By Susan E. Hinton
Review by Stephanie Butera, 13, Palatine
Winston Campus Junior High
This book was so interesting and detailed. It teaches about gangs, friends and how people in this position feel. The main character is Ponyboy. Ponyboy is trying to find his identity. I think this book might change people’s perspectives on gangs. It also might help kids stay out of gangs.
