Book Reviews

With summer around the corner, it's never too early to start thinking about books! What types of books are you interested in checking out this summer? Is there a series or title you are looking forward to reading? Have a look at some recommendations made by our REACH students and let us know which one was your favorite!

Title: Mick Hart Was Here  

Mick Harte Was Here is a wonderful book. Even though Mick Harte is a fictional character, his accident could happen to anybody. 

Mick Harte was one of the coolest kids you could ever meet. He dressed as Thomas Crapper for Halloween. His sister constantly wonders, how could something bad happen to someone like him? He always wanted to look cool, not like a doofus! That’s why he refused to wear a bike helmet. And for 12 years and 5 months, he had never fallen off his bike. In this book, Phoebe, his sister, tells his story and the aftermath.

I enjoyed this book because when you read it, you get mixed emotions. This book is sad, funny, and serious at the same time. What happened to Mick could really happen to anyone. If you are a bike rider, then this cautionary story is definitely for you.

-Mason, 5th Grade

Series Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Everything was peaceful as the Bauldaire’s played happily in the sunset by the beach. Mr. Poe, a really good friend of their parents, suddenly runs up to them with a worried and panicked expression. “Your mansion burned down in a terrible fire and your parents are...dead.”

      

The Bauldair orphans, Violet, a 14 year old inventer, Clause, a 12 year old that has read every book in your library, and Sunny, a baby with the teeth of a shark, go through a series of unfortunate events in search of a guardian. Meanwhile, a horrifying man named Count Olaf uses every moment in search of the orphans and the enormous fortune their parents left behind. Will they survive these unfortunate events that have come their way?

This entertaining book series is so addicting that it literally calls out your name. There are 13 chapter books in this series by Lemony Snicket. I love how each book leaves you hanging for more and reveals more in the next. If you are into adventures, you will love this stunning series!

    

                     -Lisa, 5th Grade

Title: Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus

Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus is full of mysteries and action. A flying horse named Pegasus was in a war fighting for his home. The enemies were dangerous creatures with incredible powers. Pegasus gets injured and falls into another world. It was interesting how things came from the sky and into another world.

The main characters were Emily and Pegasus. When I got to the part they were healing Pegasus, I was amazed when they figured out a cure for him. The next question I had was, will Pegasus be captured?

If you love adventures and mysteries, you will enjoy this book. There are also a lot of missions taking place in this book. I recommend this book for readers that like to read books from the Percy Jackson series.  

-Addam, 6th Grade

Title: Tiger’s Curse

If you love action,adventure,and mystery,then you should read Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck.This is a series of 4 amazing books: Tiger’s Curse,Tiger’s Quest,Tiger’s Voyage, and Tiger’s Destiny.

This book is about about a girl named Kelsey Hayes who happens to get a job at a circus for care taking a cobalt blue eyed, white Bengal tiger named Dhiren. Kelsey realizes that the tiger keeps focusing on her instead of its act in the circus.Then, a man named Mr.Kadam needed the tiger to go with him to India, and Kelsey happens to tag along. Along the way, she meets a girl named Nilima. When they finally arrive to India, Kelsey saw something unusual...Dhiren (or Ren for short) had transformed into a male human being! Kelsey stared in shock while Ren told the whole story. He mentioned a 300-year old Indian curse was put on him. Then in the middle of his story, Ren transformed back in to a white tiger. Ren was controlled by a curse from a wizard named Lokesh and so was his younger brother named Kishan. While on their trip, Ren and Kelsey both find ancient temples, statues, and artifacts. Read the book to discover more!

My favorite part of the book is when Ren transforms into a man for a few minutes, and then back to a tiger. I would recommend this book for 6th to 8th graders who like action, adventure, and mystery.

-Bransen, 6th Grade

Series Title: Dork Diaries: Not-So Happily Ever After

If you love fantasies and fairy tales, Dork Diaries: Not-So Happily Ever After is the book for you! It’s a journal written by the main character, Nikki Maxwell. She writes all about the challenges she faces in middle school.

This was the best book out of the whole Dork Diaries series! I think it’s the best one because it is the most magical book of them all. In this book, Nikki gets knocked out and goes into an Alice in Wonderland world with a twist.

If you are a fan of Alice and Wonderland, I recommend this story to you. If you are goofy and like to laugh, then this book is for you.

-Centirea, 6th Grade

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is extremely interesting. Out of the entire series, this book is the most suspenseful. It is full of action and mystery.

One day the school gets raided. And there is a mysterious person who is trying to kill Dumbledore, but no one knows who it is. While I read this part, I was on the edge of my seat! Will the school survive?

There are so many amazing parts in the book that I can’t pick just one favorite. There is a shocking part, but I’m not going to spoil it. If you want to find out what happens, check out the book. If you like Harry Potter or captivating magical stories, you will love this book!

-Elijah, 6th Grade