Ruby Bridges

Author: Robert Coles
Title: Rudy Bridges
Publishing information: Scholastic Inc, 1995, 7-10
Number of Pages: 13
Genre: Biography

Summary of Plot: Rudy Bridges comes from a religious family. When she is picked as one out of four black girls to attend an all white school, she does so bravely. She is escorted in the building everyday by federal marshals, and is the only kid in her class. One day she stops in the middle of the crowd to say her morning prayers, which she had forgotten to say earlier. After school, she walked a couple blocks away and said her second prayer. Later that year she is joined by other kids in her class room.
Your Reaction to the book: this book was interesting, with a religious message. I wish it could have told us more about her experience.
Potential Problems: This book is bias; it only gives the story from one perspective.
Recommendations: This story gives a great short story about a big event during the civil rights movement.

Redwall: Martin the Warrior

Author: Brain Jacques
Title: Redwall: Martin the Warrior
Publishing information: Puffin/Philomel Books, 1993, ages 9-12
Number of Pages: 376 pages
Genre: Fantasy

Summary of Plot: The co-founder of Redwall, this book starts with Martin as a slave for Badrand the Tyrant. Martin vows that he will be free and he will reclaim the sword Badrand stole from him. Soon after, Martin escapes with some friends. Tramun Clogg a pirate arrives and tries to claim some slave. Without success, he then decides the besiege the Fort. The slaves still in the fort take the opportunity to gather weapons for themselves.
Mean while Brome and Felldoh met up with traveling actors and Martin and his group are captured by shrews. After Martin saves the queen’s son they are set free. The Traveling Actors put on a play for the Fort and are able to free half of the slaves. When the other half of the slaves escape Badrang and Tramun join up to capture the escaped slaves. While the battle goes on to recapture slaves Tramun takes the fort, but Badrang retakes it making Tramun a slave.
Martin finally gets the help he need to attack the fort, he joins up with the Traveling actors and attack the fort. He reclaims his sword, but the girl of Martin’s dream is killed. Filled with grief he head towards Mossflower Woods, where he ends up in Redwall Abbey.
Your Reaction to the book: Martin the Warrior was the first book that I read in this series and I enjoyed it the most. Martin and his friends show true loyalty and friendship.
Potential Problems: there is more violence in this book, than any other in the series.
Recommendations: kids who like animals, or who are looking for another type of adventure book.

Redwall

Author: Brain Jacques
Title: Redwall
Publishing information: Puffin/Philomel Books, 1986, ages 9-12
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Fantasy

Summary of Plot: When the Abbey Redwall is under attack from the evil one-eyed rat, Cluny the Scourge, the young mouse Matthias finds the lost sword of Martin the Warrior and defends the Abbey. With the help of Methuselah, the old Liberian, he is able to go on the quest and find the legendary sword. The clues have been built into the walls of the Abbey. When they find the location of the sword, it’s gone. It was taken by a sparrow that lives on the roof and then the evil Adder, Amadeus. With the help of the wild shrews, Basil the Hare, the snow owl Squire Julian and the princess Sparrow he is able to overcome the evil adder. He gets back to Redwall as it falls to the Evil Cluny the Scourage. With the help of his old friend and the inhabitants of Redwall they are able to save their home.
Your Reaction to the book: I have always enjoyed reading the Redwall series. I think they are full of adventure and the characters show true bravery.
Potential Problems: there is a lot of violence
Recommendations: kids who like animals, or who are looking for another type of adventure book.

A Conspiracy of Kings

Author: Megan Whalen Turner
Title: A Conspiracy of Kings
Publishing information: Greenwillow Books, 2010, ages 9- 12
Number of Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Fiction

Summary of Plot: The young Sophos is the heir to his kingdom, but he loves poets and has no interest in politics. While at his family’s villa he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. While performing manual labor he grows surer of himself as a leader. He escapes when he sees his father walk into a trap. He travels to Attolia to get support from his friend the king, Eugenides. The rest of the story revealed at the end with the twist in the plot. After leaving Attolia and some troops he lets himself be captured by the enemy. He lets them think that he will let them peacefully into his kingdom. After he is voted king he chases them away. His troops that he brought with him were hiding, waiting to attack. Attolia also sent troop to help.
Your Reaction to the book: This book is the fourth of a series. It follows the authors writing pattern, cleaver and witty.
Potential Problems: some time plans don’t always go according to plan. This book didn’t seem to have that problem.
Recommendations: This book would be a great read for kids if they love Greek or Roman mythology.

Small Steps

Author: Louis Sachar
Title: Small Steps
Publishing information: Delacorte books for young readers, 2008, ages 9-12
Number of Pages: 288 pages
Genre: Modern Fiction

Summary of Plot: Armpit from Holes, is trying to avoid falling back into his old life. He is attending school, so he can graduate, and has a job so he can have money. He is taking small steps to correct his life. But when X-Ray asked him for a favor, Armpit knows there is going to be trouble. They buy tickets to a Kaira concert and then scalp them. When Armpit wants to take his handicap neighbor, Ginny to the show, X-Ray gives Armpit counterfeit tickets. There is a big scene and Ginny has a seizure. Kaira invites the two backstage for the concert. Armpit’s life starts to get complicated when the police start asking questions about the tickets. Then Kaira asked Arm pit to come to San Francisco. The manager tries to frame Armpit for murdering Kaira, but Armpit ends up saving her. When Armpit gets home he decides to stick with taking small steps, and everything ends up working out for him.
Your Reaction to the book: This book was an interesting view of Armpits life. You can tell that he is sincere about wanting to change.
Potential Problems: turning over a new leaf is not as easy as this book presents it to be. There are a lot of struggles one faces, when trying to change.
Recommendations: young kids from taught backgrounds, I think that this book could help them see that change is hard but good.

The Littles

Author: John Peterson
Title: The Littles
Publishing information: Scholastic Inc, 1967, age 8-11
Number of Pages: 80
Genre: Modern fiction, Fantasy

Summary of Plot: The Littles are tiny people who live in the Biggs’ house. When the Biggs leave for vacation and the Newmans move in. The Littles are worried that things will change, and not to their liking. The Newmans are messy and not very good cooks. The little have to chase away the mice trying to invade. Tom Little comes up with a idea to get the Newmans to help with the mice problem. Tom dresses up like a mouse and scares Mrs. Newman. Instead on lay out traps, the Newmans get a cat. Once again its little Tom who comes up with a solution, he trains the cat.
Your Reaction to the book: This book is short and fun. Tom little comes up with some great solutions to their problems
Potential Problems: Not everything has an easy solution.
Recommendations: Littler kids with short attention spans.

The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gailman
Title: The Graveyard Book
Publishing information: Haper Collins, 2008, age 9-12
Number of Pages: 307
Genre: Modern Fiction

Summary of Plot: After Nobody Owens family is murdered when he is one year old by a man names Jack. Nobody lives in the graveyard, watched over by the friendly spirits there. This book covers his adventures from a toddler to a teenager. He learns about the graveyard and the different talents of the ghost. Bod makes friends with a human girl, Scarlet, but she leaves when she is five. Later she comes back when she is fourteen and returns to the graveyards. Unknowingly she leads the man named Jake to Nobody. When the man Jake finds Bod, there is nobody who can help him. We find out that Bod’s family was killed because of an ancient prophecy, which would end the organization of Jakes. In the end Nobody succeeds, but leaves the graveyard because he is no longer a child.
Your Reaction to the book: This book was fun and interesting. The story keeps you in and you want to read more. It was tasteful for taking place in a graveyard.
Potential Problems: Some people probably would not like some aspects of this book, the ghouls and ghosts.
Recommendations: Those who are not afraid of ghost.