Book Reviews

1. LauraVillanueva
Hitler Youth (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 27, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Bartoletti, S. (2005) HitlerYouth. NY: Scholastic
Hitler Youth is a book written about children in Germany that were basically brainwashed by
Hitler himself. At a time when Germany was suffering from a weak and unstable government, high
unemployment, and poverty Hitler promised the young generation a brighter future if they joined the
Hitler Youth, an organization dedicated to Adolf Hitler. Many joined willingly. At the time Hitler was
the leader of the National Socialist Party. Later he became the dictator of Germany. Herbert Norkus
was the first youth to die for the cause of National Socialism. Many other young children devoted
their lives to Hitler not knowing what they were really doing. They didn’t know that that they were
admiring a mass murder. Sophie and her brother Hans Scholl were fortunate enough to discover
what was really happening and secretly fought back trying to make people aware of what Hitler was
really doing, but unfortunately they were caught and killed. This book tells of the lives of children
during the rise of Hitler. It tells how they were devoted to him to the point of going against their own
parents. To the point of going against the Jews even if at one point they were friends with many of
them.
Spiders (Photograph)
Retrieved on March 2, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Bishop, N. (2007) Spiders. NY: Scholastic.
Spiders are meat eaters that sense their prey through their body vibrations. They use their
fangs to inject their prey with venom. The front part of their body is called the cephalothorax where
the stomach, eyes, and legs are and the back part is called abdomen where the heart and spinnerets
is. Spiders silk is stronger than steel. When the spiders become adults they shed their skin and male
spiders look for female spiders. Female spiders wrap their eggs in a soft silk case. Baby spiders look
like adult spiders.
How They Croaked (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Bragg, G. (2011) How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous. NY: Walker
How They Croaked is a book about thirteen famous peoples death. It talks about what happened
after their death. King Tut’s body was opened and all his organs were taken out and put into jars and
taken with him to burry him. His brain was taken out through his nose because at the time they
thought the only use of the brain was to keep the ears apart. Beethoven is another famous person
included in this book. When he died he wasn’t as famous as he is now. In this book you will read

2. LauraVillanueva
about his last days alive and what he went through. You will read about the pain he encountered
before his death. After his death his hair was stolen and sold. It was because of his hair that we now
know that he had lead poisoning that caused him to dye. These are just two of the thirteen deaths this
book talks about.
My Teacher is a Monster! (Photograph)
Retrieved on February 11, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Brown, P. (2014). My Teacher is a Monster. NY: Little Brown Books
A boy named Bobby sees his teacher as a monster. She yells and screams and doesn’t
let her students throw paper airplanes. He escapes to his favorite place, the park. One day Bobby
is at his favorite place when suddenly he spots Mrs. Kirby seating on a bench. He quietly sits next
to her. He spends time with her and realizes she isn’t a monster after all.
Dear Mr. Henshaw (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Clearly, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. NY: Morrow.
Leigh is a young boy struggling with the separation of his parents and being the new kid in
school. He deals with his situation by pretending to write to his favorite author Boyd Henshaw. When
his teacher requires the class to write to an author and ask questions Leigh of coarse writes to Mr.
Henshaw. Leigh writes a short story about his dad and him on a truck drive with him. His story wins
honorable mention in the yearbook. Through writing the story, writing in his journal, and writing to
Mr. Henshaw he finds a way to cope with his dad’s absence.
Gregor theOverlander (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Collins, S. (20024). Gregor The Overlander. NY: Scholastic.
Gregor is an eleven-year old who lives with his mom and sister in a New York City apartment. His
dad mysteriously disappeared on night never to be seen again. To their knowledge he had left them.
It was summer and Gregor had to take care of his two-year old sister. He and his little sister Boots fall
into the air duct in the laundry room. They ended up landing in a world of talking animals. There
were rats, bats, cockroaches, and spiders to name a few. Most of the story takes place in the
underground world with these huge talking animals. Gregor and his sister find their dad whom had

3. LauraVillanueva
disappeared two years ago. He also had fallen into the air duct. At the end of the story the author
brings the characters back to reality when they finally make out of the underground world and enter
their apartment in New York City.
LoveThat Dog(Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Creech, S. (2001). Love That Dog. New York: Harper Collins
If you’re looking for a book on poetry you can understand, look no further! Love That Dog is written in a
simple style that is easy to understand. This free verse poetry book can show anyone how easy it is to write
your own poetry. Kids will love the story of Jack and how his teacher inspires him to write poetry even though
he thought he never could.
TheWatsons Go To Birmingham (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 27, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Curtis, C.P. (1995). The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963. NY: Delacorte
Kenny Watson is a typical African American ten-year-old boy livingin Flint with his older brother,
younger sister, and parents. When Kenny’s older brother, Bryon, starts getting himself into trouble at
home it causes the Watsons to make a trip to Birmingham where his mother is from. His parents had
the idea of taking Bryon to his grandmother’s house to stay for a while so he could straighten up. At
this time African American people were fighting for equal rights. In his hometown of Flint there
wasn’t much going on compared to the South. Some readers may be able to relate to what the
Watsons are going through in this era of time. The Watsons arrived to Birmingham safe but little did
they know what was headed their way. Joetta, Kenny’s little sister, awoke Sunday morning ready for
Sunday school. What happened next changed Kenny’s life in a matter of seconds. The church where
Joetta was attending Sunday school was bombed. Thankfully nothing happened to his sister, but
Kenny on the other hand was in shock and it took him awhile to overcome what he had seen at the
church that morning. The Watsons Go to Birmingham focuses on the lifeof Kenny Watson and his
family in an awful time in American history.

4. LauraVillanueva
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach (Photography)
Retrieved on March 2, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Deedy, C.A. (2007). Martina The Beautiful Cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree
Martina is a beautiful cockroach that turned twenty-one and is ready to get married. Her
family started to shower her with gifts, but her Cuban grandmother gave her the best gift of all,
advice. Her advice to Martina was to spill coffee on her admires’ feet in order to find the right one to
marry. Although Martina wasn’t so sure of her grandmother’s advice she went ahead and did as told.
By doing so she scared away Don Gallo, Don Cerdo, and Don Lagarto, but when she tried doing the
same to Perez, a mouse, she was in for a surprise. He spilled the coffee on her first. Martina had found
her match. He too had a Cuban grandmother.
The Legend of the Blue Bonnet (Photograph)
Retrieved February 10, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
DePaola, T. (1983). The Legend Of The Bluebonnet. NY: Putnam.
A young Comanche girl named She-Who-Is-Alone gave up her valued possession (her
doll ) to the Great Spirits to end drought and famine in return. This doll is the only thing she has
left from her family who has passed away, so that was a huge sacrifice on her part. She goes to
the hill where the spirits spoke to the shaman and offered her doll. She falls asleep and awakens
to find the whole ground covered in beautiful blue flowers. The people came out and gathered
with the young girl to sing and dance in thanks to the Great Spirits. While they where doing this it
began to rain. From that day on the girl was given another name; “One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-
People.”
Out of My Mind (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Draper, S. (2010). Out of My Mind. NY: Antheneum
Melody is an eleven year old who can’t speak, walk, or write. She is confined to a wheelchair
and is going out of her mind. Nobody knows just how smart she is until she able to attend other
classes through the inclusion program at school. Soon she discovers Medi-Talker a machine with

5. LauraVillanueva
millions of words and phrases build into it that will allow her to speak through her pushing buttons.
Once Melody’s parents buy her one she is off. There is nothing that can stop her now. Her true
brilliance is out in the open for everyone to see.
Olivia (Photograph)
Retrieved on February 11, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Falconer,I. (2011). Olivia. NY: Atheneum
Olivia is a piglet who lives with her brother, mother, father, and cat. She is very active and
wears people out. She even wears herself out. She is a typical little girl who gets annoyed by her
brother. She tries on everything when getting dressed. Her mother takes her to the beach and the
museum. Olivia dislikes taking naps and enjoys her mother reading to her before bed.
TheGraveyard Book (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Gaiman, N. (2008). The Graveyard Book. NY: Harper Collins
In The Graveyard Book aman named Jack kills an entirefamily with theexception of atoddler boy who crawlsinto the
graveyard and is taken in by ghosts. This is weretheauthorslowlygoes from realityto fiction. Thestoryis aboutthelife of this
toddler as hegrows up in thegraveyard. Fourteen yearshavepassed and Jack is lookingfor Nobody (thetoddler) to finish his
work by killinghim. At theend of thebook Nobodyslowlylooses his abilityto seeghostsand is given money to start hisnew
life elsewhere.
Rosa (Photograph)
Retrieved February 11, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. NY: Holt.
Rosa Parks was a seamstress in Montgomery. One Thursday she left work early to care
for her mother who had been feeling sick. As usual she rode the bus home. At that time African
Americans had to sit in designated seats. There was also a neutral seating where both white and
black could sit. Rosa sat there on that Thursday. The bus was getting full, so the bus driver
demanded that the black people give up their seats. Rosa refused to obey his request. She was
tired of putting white people first. Police were called and she was arrested. The African American
people of Montgomery were tired too. They showed their support by making signs that said,
“Monday don’t ride the bus, walk instead.” On that day the buses were empty. No African
Americans rode the bus. People were ready to stand with her. Martin Luther King spoke for them.

6. LauraVillanueva
From that day on they didn’t ride the bus. One year after Rosa’s arrested the Supreme Court
ruled that segregation on busses was illegal.
Rapunzel’s Revenge (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel’s Revenge. NY: Bloomsbury.
As a young child Rapunzel was kidnapped and taken away to live in a grand villa with who she
though was her mother, Mother Gothel. As she grew she always wondered what was on the other
side of the grand wall. Mother Gothel never let he leave outside the walls. Until one day she escaped
and found out the horrible truth about Mother Gothel. She met a lady that turned out to be her real
mother. Mother Gothel captured her again and locked her up in a creepy tree with a hollowed-out
room high up. She was there for four years. Eventually she escapes and does everything possible to
rescue her real mother form Gothel. Throughout her journey she meets a young guy who ends up
helping her. They both go through several obstacles until finally she rescues her mother.
It’s So Amazing(Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Harris, R (1999). It’s So Amazing. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press
It’s So Amazingis abook written for children whohavequestions about just aboutanythingconcerningtheir body. Itis a
book that parents can read to or havetheir children read on theirown. If parents aren’t surehow toanswercertain questions
this book will help them by answeringthequestionsfor them. Italso has illustrations tohelp thechildren understand better.
Comics Squad Recess (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Holm, J. (2014). Comics Squad: Recess. NY: Random HouseBooks
Comic Squad is a book that consists of eight short storiescomposed of comicsby different authors. You will find fiction and
nonfiction stories within thisbook. It’sgreat for children who lovecomics!

7. LauraVillanueva
This is Not My Hat (Photograph)
Retrieved on February 10, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Klassen, J. (2012). This is Not My Hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick.
A small fish steals a hat from a huge fish while it is sleeping. The small fish tries to convince
himself that it’s okay even though he knows it’s not right to steal. He tells himself that the big fish
won’t notice it’s gone. He even says the hat is too small for the big fish and it fits him just right. He
swims away trying to hide where big and tall plants are close together. He doesn’t think the big fish
will find him there but he is wrong. The big fish finds him and takes his hat back.
Skulduggery Pleasant (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. NY: HarperCollins.
Stephanie’s uncle, a well-known author, dies a sudden death while writing the final chapter of
his book. During his funeral Stephanie sees an unknown man standing at a distance wearing a tan
overcoat. At the revealing of her uncle’s will the unknown man was present. He was her uncle’s
friend named Skulduggery. Stephanie although she was only 12 years old inherited most of he uncle’s
possessions including his huge home. On a stormy night Stephanie ends up being left alone in what is
now her home when suddenly a man breaks in and attacks her. Skulduggery shows up and protects
her. Throughout the remainder of the book he becomes her protector. Together they fight the evil
Serpine until they defeat him.
Rules (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Lord, C. (2008). Rules. NY: Scholastic.
Catherine is a twelve year old that wants to livea normal life. The fact that her brother is
autistic makes her feel likeshe has to hide him from the world. What she doesn’t realize is that she is
the one with the problem. When she finally realizes this she starts to live a happy lifewithout caring
what anyone thinks about her brother. She no longer has to hide him away form anyone.

8. LauraVillanueva
Me…Jane (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
McDonnell, P. (2011). Me…Jane. NY: LittleBrown Books
Me…Jane is the story about Jane Goodall as a child. It tells about her growing up with her special
chimpanzee toy that she carried everywhere. It also tells about how young Jane loved the world
around her especially animals. He dream of caring for animals comes true as an adult. She grows up
to become an animal activists.
Paper Bag Princess (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 19, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Munsch, R. (1992). Paper Bag Princess. Canada: Annick Press
Elizabeth is a beautiful princess that was going to marry prince Ronald, but a dragon came and
burned everything and left with Ronald. She sets off to rescue her prince. She over comes obstacles to
reach her prince. When she finally defeats the dragon and reaches Ronald he sees what a mess she is
and insults her instead of being grateful that she rescued him. She tells him what she thinks of him
and doesn’t marry him.
WeAreShip (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 27, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Nelson, K. (2008). We are Ship. NY: Hyperion
We AreTheShip is abook based on great African American baseball players and thestruggles they went through to play
the game. Dating back to theearly 1900s weseehow theseballplayers weretreated. Someof them wereforced to leavethe
field in crutches dueto runners spikingthem. At thetimeprotectivegear wasn’t required so therewas alot of mistreatment
against them. Soon Rubestarted TheNegro National League. It was different from themajors. TheNegro Leaguewas fast,
flashy and daring. Throughout thebook welearn aboutmany gifted African American playerssuch as Satchel Paigeand Jackie
Robinson. Welearn about thestruggles theseplayershad to overcomesuch as havingto play on adaily basis without any rest
as well as not beingable to eat in certain restaurants dueto theirskin color. Soon someof theseball players wheremoved up
to themajors. This may havestarted theend of theNegro League. Jackiefaced somehard times duringhis timein themajor
leagues. To theextent of his family beingthreated. This book is based in timeerawhen African Americans werelooked down
upon becauseof their skin color.
Primates (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from

9. LauraVillanueva
www.amazon.com
Ottaviani. J, &Wicks, M. (2013). Primates. NY: LittleBrown Books
Primates is abook about threepassionatewomen, JaneGoodall, Dian Fossey, BiruteGaldikas. Thesethreeprimatologist
werestudents of Louis Leakey. Each oneof them madeaprofound contributionto primatology. Goodall was passionate and
was great at observing. Through her observationswenowknowmoreabout ourclosest relatives. Dian fought for whatshe
believed in. She fought for thegorillas sheloved. Birutewas patient. Shewent and loved it somuch that shestayed all because
of theloveshefelt for thegorillas.
Timmy Failure(Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Pastis, S. (2013). Timmy Failure. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick
Timmy is ayoungboy who runs a madeup detectiveagency with his partnerTotal, abigstuffed bear. Timmy dislikes school
especially his teacher and Corrina, his rival. RolloTookus, thesmartest kid is probablyhis onlyfriend sincethat’s who he gets
paired up with duringschool.
Bridge to Terabithia (Photography)
Retrieved on March 2, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Paterson, K. (1987). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Crown
Jess lives with his parents and three sisters. One summer he wakes up early everyday to
practice running. He wants to be the fastest fifth grader, but he wasn’t count on Leslie moving in next
door and joining the race on the first day of school. Leslie and Jess become best friends and make up
their own pretend kingdom called Terabithia in the back woods. Leslie shows Jess that he is strong
and courageous to standup to the school bully. Jess leaves with his music teacher without inviting
Leslie. When he returns he finds out that Leslie has had an accident and dies. At first he blames
himself for not being there with her but later comes to realize the strength that Leslie has given him.
Good Masters, Sweet Ladies (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 27, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Schlitz, L.A. (2009). Good Masters, Sweet Ladies Boston, MA: Candlewick Press

10. LauraVillanueva
Good Masters, Sweet Ladies is a book that consists of seventeen short plays based on medieval times.
The setting is based on a medieval manor so some of the characters know each other. For example,
Taggot, the blacksmith daughter meets Hugo the Lord’s nephew while working on his horse. Thomas
is the son of the Lord’s doctor. When reading this book the reader will learn how people survived
during the medieval times. Each character plays a different role in the manor. They all some how
interact with each other. We see how each one deals with their own problems in their own way.
Wonderstruck (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Selznick, B. (2011). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic.
Wonder Struck is two stories in one that will surprise you at the end. It is a must read novel that tells
one story through pictures and the other through words. Find out how these two stories come
together to give you an unexpected ending that you never saw coming.
Where the Wild Things Are (Photograph)
Retrieved February 10, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Sendak, M. (1963). Where the Wild Things Are. NY: HarperCollins.
Max is young boy with a huge imagination. Right before dinner one night, his mother called
him “Wild Thing” after seeing all the mischief he had caused. Not happy with her comment he replied,
“I’ll eat you up.” His mother sends him to his room with out any dinner. His room starts converting
into a jungle where he sails away to an island full of wild things. He finds a way to tame them and
becomes their leader. After a while Max becomes hungry and wants to go back home where there is
food to eat. Although the wild things don’t want him to leave, he sails away into his room where his
dinner is waiting for him.
Mirror, Mirror (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, Mirror. NY: Dutton.
Mirror, Mirror is a unique kind of book that tells two sides to each story. It is literally said
backwards like a mirror gives a reflection so does this book. It gives the reflection of what is being
said. By doing so it changes the meaning of the story. There are different stories written within the
book.

11. LauraVillanueva
It’s aBook (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Smith, L. (2011). It’s a Book. NY: RoaringBrook
It’s aBook is about amonkey tryingto read abook. Hisfriend thedonkeyconstantlykeeps interruptinghim byaskingif the
book has apassword or if you can scroll down. Themonkeysimplyanswers no it’s abook. Thedonkey wants to knowif it is
anythinglikeacomputer. At theend thedonkey borrows thebookand can’t seem to put it down.
Balloons Over Broadway (Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons Over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s parade. NY: Houghton
Balloons over Broadway is the true story of Tony, the inventor of the puppets of Macy’s parade. It talks about how Tony first
started makinghis puppets and how hemoved on to maketheballoonsweseenow every ThanksgivingDay.
A Crooked Kind of Perfect(Photograph)
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Urban, L. (2007). A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Orlando: Harcourt
Zoe is like any other child her age. She has dreams just likewe all do, but we don’t always get what
we want. Zoe wants a piano but instead gets an organ. She looses her best friend to a new girl in
school. Her dad hardly ever lives their house due to his fear of being around people. Through out the
book you see how they both change. Her dad overcomes his fears with the help of one of Zoe’s
classmates and Zoe finds a great friend in him.
The Three Pigs (Photograph)
Retrieved on February 11, 2015 from
www.amazon.com
Wiesner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. NY: Clarion.

12. LauraVillanueva
There are three pigs that are brothers and they each built their own house. The first pig built
his house out of straw, but a wolf comes along and blows so hard that he blows the pig straight out of
the story. The first pig goes and tells his brother that it’s safe out there, so the two pigs join the first
pig. The three of them made an airplane out of a page and flew it straight into other storybooks. They
passed through Hey Diddle, Diddle and the dish that ran away with the spoon until they came to a
dragon that guarded a rose made out of gold. The pigs rescued the dragon by taking him out of the
page and brought him home to scare the wolf away. They all lived happy ever after.