Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen  [Adult Fiction]

by Jeana, 9th grader

Not a book for the kids, but an amazing book nonetheless. We follow the story of Jacob, a Cornell drop-out who hopped a train to join the circus. He had been training to become a veterinarian, so he became the circus’ vet. At the same time, the narration skips ahead to Jacob when he is in his nineties, living in a nursing home, and remembering his life with the circus. The switching back and forth between past and present narrators is seamless and very well done. I loved the style of the writing altogether- it was captivating and beautifully done and the characters were endearing (especially Rosie).  I recommend this book.

The Shakespeare Stealer

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood  [YA Fiction]

by Jessica, 6th grader

I really liked this book. There were a lot of surprises. The Shakespeare Stealer was mainly about a boy named Widge who is bought by a scary man and is supposed to steal Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, but he does not want to. Widge has made friends and does not want to betray them, but if he doesn’t get the play, his master has threatened to slit his throat. What will he do? You’ll have to find out by reading it yourself!

The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare  [YA Fiction]

by Maria, 7th grader

The Bronze Bow is Historical Fiction. David is a boy who ran away from his village and the cruel master of his trade. He was found by a man who hated Romans and was preparing an army to fight them in the mountains. David is plunged into a world of unexpected “manhood” until a boy he knows from his old village appears out of nowhere…

A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray  [YA Fiction]

By Abi, 8th grader

Gemma Doyle is a 16-year-old girl who has a secret that only a few people know. She’s a member- the only member- of a secret order. In other words, she’s a witch! Some people want her power and will do anything to get it. With a boarding school full of secrets, and an addict for a father, what is Gemma going to do?

Milkweed

Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli [YA Fiction]

By Meghan, age 12

Imagine this: You’re a gypsy, you’re eight years old, you’re in the middle of the Holocaust, you have no known relatives or a home, and you live in a horse stall and have to survive by stealing food. This is the life of Misha Pilsudski. I liked this book because it is set during an important part of history and it is great literature. It is an intriguing story about the life of a despised homeless gypsy boy.

by Jessica, age 12

This tragic tale of a young boy who does not know his name, and who lives during the Holocaust will keep you reading. Sadly, the end of the book is a total disappointment, otherwise Jerry Spinelli’s book is amazing.

Time Enough for Drums

Time Enough for Drums, by Ann Rinaldi [YA Fiction]

by Abi, Age 13

Jemima is a willstrong, uncontrollable teen whose tutor, John Reid, is determined to make a proper young lady out of her. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary War is starting and Jem’s older brother is joining. Then John joins and Jem starts missing him. Is she falling in love? This is an incredible book. Very well-written and factual.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See [adult fiction]

by Wendy, 11th grader

In pre-Mao China, during the 1860’s, two girls from neighboring villages are brought together in a lifelong friendship by a local matchmaker. The story spans the entire lives of the two, one named Lily and the other Snow Flower, from their footbinding days to their old age, and is narrated by Lily. I can assure anyone who likes Chinese history that they will not be disappointed by this novel. But far from being a dry history textbook, Snow Flower is full of philosophical phrases and feeling — I felt myself emphathizing with all the characters and their situations. It resonated with me long after I was finished reading.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak [YA Fiction]

by Katie, 8th grader

The book The Book Thief is about an orphan who is abandoned at 10 and sent to a different family. She saw her brother die and found a book that the gravedigger dropped. Soon she learns how to read and started to steal books from destruction. She makes a friend and learns how to deal with being picked on. She learns a lot and reads a lot, too. I suggest reading this book over and over.

Voyage on the Great Titanic

Voyage on the Great Titanic, by Ellen Emerson White

[J Fiction, Dear America]

by Philana, 5th grader

This book is about this girl named Margaret and she’s an orphan. She goes on the Titanic. You have to read this book to find out what happens next!!

Inherit the Wind

Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee [adult nonfiction -- plays]

by Monica, 12th grader

This is a really short, historical fiction play about the Scopes Monkey Trial over evolution. I’m way too excited to write a long review, so suffice it to say that Inherit the Wind is absolutely wonderful. To be fair, I think you have to care about the debate over evolution to truly like this play. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this play (and the black-and-white movie, too). It’s incredibly clever and a real tribute to human thought.