Luke's Book Review

Title: Titanic: Collision Course

Author: Gordon Korman

Publisher: Scholastics

Place and Year of Publication: 2011 New York

Number of Pages: 163

Where you found the book: CHS library

Story Review

 The reason that this book is called “Titanic: Collision Course” is because this book is about the titanic, and the Titanic accidentally goes on a “collision course”. This book starts on Friday, April 12^th, 1912, 4:50 PM, and ends on Monday, April 15th, 1912, 12:09 AM. The main characters in this book are Paddy Burns, Sophie Bronson, Juliana Glamm, Alfie Huggins, and Jack the Ripper. The main problem in this book is that the Titanic crashes into an iceberg, and that Jack the ripper is trying to kill people. In this book, Paddy Burns is running away from the guards on the boat, because he is an accidental stowaway. Alfie Burns thinks that he has found Jack the Ripper. He thinks that he is a man named Robert Masterson, but everyone else isn’t sure. Is Mr. Masterson Jack the Ripper? Read the book and find out. The theme in this book is that even if you’re a child, you can still do important things. The main good guys in this book are all children, and they help save lots of lives.

Christian Perspective

This book is not written in a Christian perspective. In this book, sometime some of the characters misuse God’s name. There is a bit of violence in this book, and lots of peril. Quite often in this book the children disobey what they are told to do, and Paddy Burns repeatedly breaks the law.

My Thoughts

The reason that I chose this book is because I like the author Gordon Korman, and this book is by him. This book is really good. It has everything: peril, violence, drama, intensity etc. I would recommend this series (there are 3 of these books) to anyone that likes adventure books.

Luke's Book review

Luke’s Book Review

Title: Mark Twain

Author: Clinton Cox

Publisher: Apple (Scholastic)

 Place and year of publication: New York, July 1999

Number of pages: 240

Where you found the book: School library

Story review

The reason this book is called “Mark Twain” is because it is all about Mark twain. This book is set in many places, including Hannibal, Missouri, Florida, Missouri, St. Louis, Philadelphia, New York, among other places. The main characters in this book are Mark Twain and his wife, Olivia Langdon. This book has no problem, because it is a biography with no plot or storyline, just facts. Some important things that happen in this book are that Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain’s original name) moves, He moves again, He becomes a riverboat pilot He moves again, He marries Olivia, He has his first daughter, second, third, first dies, fourth born, He writes books, He dies. The theme in this book is to fight (or write) for what you believe in.

Christian Perspective

This book is appropriate for about ages 12+.  In this book, it talks a bit anti-God.  At one point, Mark Twain says “Anyone who is in his right mind and is not purposely blinding himself cannot believe in God.” There also are a few swears in this book, and it talks about Twain laying awake at night thinking of new and creative ways to kill his teacher (He never puts any into effect).

My Thoughts

The reason that I chose this book is because my teacher wanted me to pick a biography and this is the first one I saw. I didn’t like this book very much, because it was boring, not funny or exciting, and it was a biography. I don’t generally like biographies, and this was no exception. I would recommend this to anyone why is a fan of Tom sawyer, and people who like biographies. I would do this because this is a biography, and it is about the writer of Tom Sawyer.

Luke Book Review: Hunger Games

Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Place & year of Publication: New York, 2008

Number of Pages: 374

Where you found the Book: My Sister

Story Review

The reason that this book is called the Hunger Games is because in the book there is a contest to the death and the contest is called “The Hunger Games” The main Characters in this book are Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. This book is set in District 12 And the Capital. This book is set in the future with elements of the past. The main problem in this book is that Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are chosen to go to the Hunger Games, and only one person can win in the Hunger Games. This book starts out in District 12, where Katniss lives. Life there is horrible for everyone, and annually, they choose two people form each of the 12 districts to go to the Hunger Games. The two people form district 12 for the 74^th annual Hunger Games, are Peeta and Katniss. They go to the Capitol and stay there for a while, and eventually, the Games start. The theme in “The Hunger Games” is who has the power. In this book, everyone is controlled by the Capitol. That’s why the Capitol made the Hunger Games. To show that they can do anything to anyone, even take their children away and put them in a battle to the death.

Christian Perspective

The problem with this book is that all it’s about is killing. Because of that, it is a very violent book. This book would not be appropriate for younger readers, because of the gruesome, descriptive violence. There are a lot of times where Katniss could have prayed to God and asked him what to do. Also, that is sort of what life would be like without God, in the future.

My Thoughts

The reason that I chose this book is because almost 20 people recommended it to me. They were all telling me to read it, so I did. It is a great book! I would recommend it to anyone who is allowed to read it. One of the things that I liked about it is how intense it is. It is very gripping and entertaining. It’s so dramatic and violent. I would recommend it to anyone who is allowed to read it. It is just amazing.

Luke's Convincing Paragraph

What is the most important thing that you need to survive alone? Is it water? Food? Strength? Knowing how to swim and what to eat? No! All of these things are very helpful, but the most important aspect of survivng alone is a will to live. You could have all the knowledge in the world, all the food and water you'll ever need, you could be super strong, but if you don't have a will to live, they become useless. And if there's a man, stranded on an island, doesn't know anything about survival, is very weak, and has no food and water, but has a will to live, he will survive longer than the person who studies island food, knows what to eat and where to find it, can crack open coconuts, and is very strong, but has no will to live. Even peseverance isn't as helpful as a will to live. Because if you have peseverance, but no will to survive, you will pesevere at suicide. In Gary Paulson's "Hatchet", Brian almost kills himself because he thinks he has no will to live. He realises he does though, and this saves his life. Because if you have water and absolutely no will to survive, you'll just drown yourself. Because if you don't want to live, you're probably not going to live. So, if you're on an island, stranded, alone, the one thing you need to survive, the thing you need the most, is a will to survive.

Luke's book review

Title: North

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Place and Year of Publication: New York, NY, 2004

Number of Pages: 354

Where you Found this Book: a Librarian

 Story Review

This book is called north. the reason that it is called North is because the main character, Alvin, goes on an adventure to the North to follow in the footsteps of his hero, the North Pole explorer, Matthew Henson. This book starts out in Washington, D.C., 2003, where Alvin lives. His Mom is always babying him though, so he runs away, planning to go to the North Pole. He gets on a train and starts traveling, then he meets a girl named Hardette and they travel together. eventually they part and Alvin gets to Churchill. people find out that he ran away and try and get him to go back home. Then Alvin runs away. Again. he manages to get to Pond Inlet, a very cold place and meets Idlouk Tana and they have lots of adventures together.the Theme in this book is survival.

Christian Perspective

This book is not written in a christian perspective. It involves drugs and a bit of swearing. and the reason that this whole adventure starts is because Alvin runs away from home, stows away, and steals someones shoes. He should have asked God what to do before he ran away, he could have prayed to God to help him multiple times.

My Thoughts About This Book

The reason that I chose this book is because the librarian recommended it to me. This book is okay, but I didn't like it very much because i don't like survival realistic-fiction type books.They don't have enough action for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who like "The Hatchet" by Gary Paulson, because these books are similar.

Book Review: Fablehaven

Title: Rise of the Evening star (Fablehaven)

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher and place & year of publication: Aladdin April 2007 New York

Number of pages: 368

Where I found the book: From a friend

Story review:

This is a fantasy-adventure genre book. It is about a boy and a girl named Seth and Kendra. Kendra is 12 and Seth is 10. Seth is very courageous and outgoing but sometimes a bit headstrong. Kendra is very timid and not outgoing at all. The reason this book is called Fablehaven is because that is the name of the magical preserve that their grandpa lives on. They go to their grandparents because their mom and dad are going on a vacation.

They don’t know their grandparents very well because they’ve never been to their house before. So when they get there they are amazed at how big there grandparent’s yard is and that there are so many bugs like butterflies around. When they see their grandpa he tells them that they aren’t allowed in the yard because there are ticks and stuff like that in the forest but he says it very suspiciously.

Eventually they find out that the butterflies are fairies and that the yard is full of magical creatures. On Midsummer’s eve, the most dangerous day on the preserve Seth opens a window and lets evil magical creatures inside the house. When they wake up they find the house in ruins, and they go on an adventure to fix everything.

Christian Perspective:

This book is not written from a Christian perspective. At times it is quite intense and dark. There are lots of times when Kendra, Seth, or there grandpa could’ve prayed for help from God. When they first find out that the butterflies are fairies, they ask their grandpa if the fairies are good or evil and he says “they are not good or evil. The brownies fix things because it is what they do not to be kind.”

Personal thoughts:

This is a great book, but like I said in Christian perspective, at times it can get a little dark. It has all the elements of a great book though. Adventure, emotion, cliffhangers, plot twists, etc. I would recommend this to anyone who likes amazing books.