Title: Many Stones
Author:Carolyn Coman
Plot Summary:Berry Morgan's father isn't around much since her parents divorce, but when her sister Laura is brutally murdered in South Africa, he comes back into Berry's life. Berry isn't interested in spending much time with him and seems to do things just to annoy him. Then he suggests that she go with him to South Africa to attend a memorial service in honor of her sister. Her mother feels it would be a good idea so Berry agrees to go. It is a journey of reconciliation and recognition of their own grief, as well as a look at a country that is also trying to heal after suffering from poverty, racism, and hate.
Reviewer's Remarks: A great coming of age novel in which the reader experiences the grieving and growth of a teenage girl. It is also an excellent picture of South Africa as it tries to recover from years of an apartheid society.
Reviewed by: Mrs. Garthwaite
Title: Redwall
Author: Brian Jacques
Plot Summary: This book is about a young mouse called Matthias that goes out to save his home Redwall. Redwall is being attacked by Cluny the Scourge, who is a the one-eyed rat, and his mission is to take over Redwall! During this journey Matthias encounters many new friends and foes. In doing this, he discovers a lot about himself and that one day he will be a great warrior.
Reviewer's Remarks: If you like action-packed, books, you'll really like this one! I thought this book was great. It had action, and it also teaches a lesson that no matter who you are, you can always be great. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Fantasies. It kept me wanting to read till the last word was spoken.
Reviewed by: Eugene Fleming
Title: The Breadwinner
Author: Deborah Ellis
Plot Summary: This 2003-2004 Battle of the Books title deals with the conditions in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. When Parvana's wealthy family is reduced to living in one room and her father is taken away to prison by the Taliban, she is forced to disguise herself as a boy and go out into the market place to earn money and bring food home for her family.
Reviewer's Remarks: An intense, realistic depiction of conditions in a country torn by interior and exterior war and the effect it has had on the innocent people who live there. A fast reading, interesting, coming of age novel.
Reviewed by: Mrs. Garthwaite
Title: Witness
Author: Karen Hesse
Plot Summary: Set in 1924 in a Vermont town this historical fiction book is a recounting of what happens to a small town in Vermont when the Ku Klux Klan establishes itself in the community. The story is told as monologues in a play through the perspective of several different characters: Leanora, a 12 year old African American girl; 6 year old Esther, who is Jewish: a preacher; an 18 year old white student; the sheriff; the newspaper editor, etc.
Reviewer's Remarks: The book is simple to read but it deals with the complex topics of discrimination,relationships, and making judgements. I read it in one hour because I couldn't put it down.
Reviewed by: Mrs. Garthwaite
Title: Everything on a Waffle
Author: Polly Horvath
Plot Summary: How many of us have eaten steak and mashed potatoes on a waffle or better yet pasta on a waffle? Well, that's what The Girl on the Red Swing restaurant does; it serves everything on a waffle - thus the title of the book! Primrose Squarp's parents are lost at sea when her father's fishing boat is caught in a storm, and her mother goes out in their sailboat to find him. They do not come back and everyone in the town thinks they are dead. Only Primrose knows they will come back, but the town thinks she is not accepting the reality of the situation so they have a town meeting to decide what to do with her. Primrose is passed around to people who take care of her until her bachelor Uncle comes to town, and she goes to live with him to the dismay of the school guidance counselor. The only person beside Primrose's uncle who allows her to hold on to her dream that her parents are alive is the owner of The Girl on the Red Swing restaurant. Primrose goes there when she needs to get away from everything. If you like to cook, each chapter ends with the recipe of a food mentioned somewhere in that chapter.
Reviewer's Remarks: This Newbery Honor book is humorous and entertaining. The characters are unusual. All in all, just a fun read. Some good recipes too!!!
Reviewed by: Mrs. Garthwaite
Title: That was Then,This is Now
Author: S.E. Hinton
Plot Summary: This story takes place roughly around the 70's or 80's. There are two gangs called the Shepards and the Socs, who adore beating up people and picking on girls whenever they want to. Mark and Bryon are best friends. Mark lives at Bryon's house because his parents died. Frequently, they go to Charlie's for playing pool and earning money. Charlie works at the pool hall and also is Mark's and Bryon's best friend. When they went there, Charlie told them that M&M (he is called this because he always has some M&Ms with him) was looking for them so they can go and find him. On the way home M&M gets beat up by the Shepards and some Socs. M&M gets angry so he runs away. The next day Bryon and Mark are at the hospital because Bryon's mother had an operation. That night Bryon has a date with Cathy, and after the date Bryon gets in a fight. In the middle of all this they find out that M&M hasn't yet returned home. While searching for him,they go to the pool hall and get into another fight,but this time someone is killed. Bryon and Mark's friendship divides as Bryon's and Cathy's grows.
Reviewer's Remarks: I really enjoyed reading this book because it involved a lot of action. I don't think people that are very young should read this book because it had too much violence. Drugs,guns,knives,and other types of weapons are mentioned and used in this book. The book relates to The Outsiders,another book written by S.E.Hinton, in that the setting was taking place in the time of the hippies. It gave me an image of the 70's and 80's and made me realize how life was back then.
Reviewed by: Chirag Patel
Title: Soccer Stars
Author:Emily Costello
Plot Summary:This book is about a girl named Tess who loved playing soccer. On her new AYSO soccer team everyone plays. Sometimes even the best players have to sit out half of the game to make room for everyone. All Tess wants to do is win so she tells some of her teammates, that aren't as good as she is, the wrong times for games or how it is better to sit on the sidelines than to play in the game. When the Stars find out, they aren't too happy with Tess's plan. Sooner or later, Tess finds out there's more to the game than just winning. Can this change her mind or will she lose all of her friends?
Reviewer's Remarks: I enjoyed this book because it taught me a lesson about not just worrying about winning. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you are a soccer fan.
Reviewed by: Kajal Patel