The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring  By J.R.R. Tolkien

*****5/5 stars  Fantasy

This may sound like a really boring book about people who talk in stilted accents and have odd names. I am going to tell the truth and the truth is that it is an interesting book, about oddly named people talking in stilted accents. Once you get used to the language the characters speak, it's easy to understand.

          

              The Fellowship of the Ring is about a hobbit (a very small person who loves food) named Frodo. Frodo was adopted by another hobbit named Bilbo. Bilbo owns a ring which turns him invisible when he puts it on. Eventually Bilbo leaves and Frodo becomes in charge of the ring. Frodo eventually discovers that the ring is dangerous and must be destroyed. The only way to do that is to go to Mordor, where evil creatures rule, and cast the ring into a fiery pit by Mt. Doom. So Frodo sets off, determined to bring the ring to Mordor and to end all evil.

            This book reminds me of Norse mythology and Harry Potter. The names sound Nordic and some characters in The Lord of the Rings are similar to the characters in Norse mythology. Lord of the Rings reminds me of Harry Potter because a lot of the events and characters are almost the same in both stories. (Yes, I know that Lord of the Rings was written first).

Silverwing

Silverwing  By Kenneth Oppel

***** 5/5 stars  Fantasy
When Shade, a Silverwing bat, is migrating south with his colony, he is swept away during a storm. He then embarks on a journey to find his colony again. On the journey, he encounters and discovers many things that amaze and surprise him, including the Promise that bats may be able to fly during the day. This book reminds me of The Wizard of Oz because both Shade and Dorothy are trying to get home. They both have interesting companions and they encounter things that they didn't think existed. Shade's cleverness and resourcefulness helps him through obstacles that try to prevent him from returning home. Though, like Dorothy, Shade eventually makes his way back home.

Animal Farm

Animal Farm  By George Orwell

**** 4/5 stars  Fantasy
Living on a farm in England,  the animals of Manor Farm have had enough of men. They have worked so hard and they hardly receive enough food. On the path to fairness, the animals overthrow the farmer and work to establish a farm of equality and justice. What made this book interesting was how the farm resembled a communist country. The rulers of the farm, the pigs, clearly state that no animal will sleep in a bed. Later, the pigs end up sleeping in the farmhouse's beds. They also say that no animal should drink alcohol. Eventually, the pigs drink many crates of alcohol. I just wrote a report on North Korea and I thought it was interesting how similar the farm was to North Korea.  North Korea's leader is greatly respected and the government tells the people lies. The pigs,too, had to be treated with utmost respect by the animals and the pigs fed the other animals lies. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars was the fact that its ending was unsatisfactory.

Yellow Star

Yellow Star  By Jennifer Roy

***** 5/5 stars  Nonfiction

This is a story about a Jewish girl, Syvia, during WWII. She lives in a ghetto in Lodz, Poland. Living in horrible conditions, Syvia, struggles throughout the war in the ghetto, waiting to be rescued and for the war to end. I normally don't like nonfiction, but this book was very intriguing and interesting. It was told in a sort of haunting way, so I couldn't put it down.

Firegirl

Firegirl  By Tony Abbott

**** 4/5 stars   Fiction
When Jessica Feeny steps into Tom's class she doesn't look like most of the kids there. She is badly burned from a fire she does not want to talk about. When Tom develops an unsteady friendship with Jessica, he understands what it means to be in her shoes. What makes this book interesting is the character Jessica Feeny. Most people don't know anyone who has suffered a trauma like that. Tony Abbott really explains what it is like to know a girl like Jessica and what it is like to be her.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian  By Sherman Alexie

**** 4/5 stars Fiction

Living on a Indian reservation(the "rez") is not easy for Junior. He is beaten up regularly, he stutters, and he has a lisp -- at 14. Then, in order to go to a better school, Junior leaves the reservation, thus being even more of an outcast on the rez.  This book contains some "PG-13 theme stuff"(things that would get you in trouble  at school if you talked about them) , but other than that it was good.

The Eyes of the Amaryllis

The Eyes of the Amaryllis  By Natalie Babbit

**** 4/5 stars Mystery

For thirty years, Jenny's grandmother has waited by the sea, waiting for a sign from her drowned husband. Now Jenny is visiting her grandmother while her grandmother's ankle heals. There Jenny meets Seward, a mysterious man. When Jenny asks Gran about him, Gran doesn't tell her anything. Gran isn't telling many things. This book is well written and suspenseful.