Category: Realistic Fiction

Shiloh – Book Review

Shiloh, By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

shiloh

Shiloh is a book about a boy named Marty Preston, who finds a dog. He keeps the dog, and names him Shiloh. But when Marty finds out that the dog belongs to an abusive owner, he doesn’t want to give him up. So he starts to work for the owner to get Shiloh back. But the owner doesn’t seem trustworthy enough to keep his promise. How will Marty save the dog now?

This is such a heartwarming book to read. Great story about love, humanity, and doing the right thing. It is very well-written, and captures every detail. It has you waiting in suspense, wondering what’s going to happen next.

Marty’s determination and willingness to save Shiloh is what I really like about his character. It shows the true meaning of a man’s best friend. But there are a lot of underdeveloped characters in this story. For example, Marty’s friend, David Howard, is an important part of the book because he is one of the first to know about Shiloh; But, the book does not mention too much about this interesting character, which does upset me a little.

This book was sad, which is the case with most books about dogs, but it was amazing overall, and I enjoyed reading this very much.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry – Book Review

Roll of Thunder, By Mildred T. Taylor

roll of thunder

Summary

Roll of Thunder is an amazing and realistic book that captures the lives of a black family during the 1930s. It is beautifully written, and talks about the hardships that African-Americans had to face. We follow the narrator, a 9-year old black girl named Cassie, who tells a story about racism, segregation, and racial injustices that occurred to her and her family; and how they tried to solve them.

Review

This book takes me through a whirlwind of emotions, and has me feeling sad, happy, and angry for the characters. There is a good combination of entertainment, humor, and drama, which grasps my interest right away. And even though the book is historic, the way the author expressed all the details in such an intriguing fashion had me hooked; which is what made me like it so much.

Overall, this is one of the best books on history that I have read, and it is definitely recommended. But, there are lots of people that might find it offensive because of the extreme racism; though you have to keep in mind that this is how it was like back then, and the book is just an honest story about all that.

The Romeo and Juliet Code – Book Review

The Romeo and Juliet Code, By Phoebe Stone -Summary

the romeo and juliet code

Summary

The Romeo and Juliet Code is a charming story about a British girl named Felicity Bathburn Budwig. She has been dropped off in Bottlebay, Maine by her parents, during the war in England. They didn’t tell her anything, just left her with her strange Uncle Gideon, an Aunt obsessed with Romeo and Juliet, and some captain who won’t come out of his room.

Months pass as Felicity continues to live with the Bathburns, and she starts to notice strange things happening. Her uncle seems to be hiding letters from her – letters she’s sure are from her parents. A boy named Derek starts helping her with the mystery, and they grow to become friends. But what is Uncle Gideon hiding? Will they be able to crack the code? Where are her parents and will they ever come back?. . .

Review

Felicity (Flissy) is a charming little girl who is trying to make sense of the world around her. There are just too many questions about her parents. About the Bathburns. About the war. Too many new emotions and feelings about the sweet, handsome boy named Derek that she can’t decipher. Younger readers might be able to connect with Flissy’s emotions and feelings as they follow her on her journey to discovering the bold, daring Bathburn she really is.

Anyone who likes mystery will enjoy this book, and I definitely recommend this to them! Mystery, a little humor, and drama make the book worth reading, and it will appeal to readers with all kinds of different interests.

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly – Locker Hero

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly – Locker Hero By Rachel Renee Russell

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly - Locker Hero By Rachel Renee Russell

 The Misadventures of Max Crumbly – Locker Hero is about a middle school boy named Max. He has been home-schooled by his grandmother all his life, and now he is finally attending a real school. But his misadventures lead him to question that choice. He wishes he could become the hero he always wanted to be and get out of the mess he is in.

Unfortunately, Max’s uncanny, almost superhuman ability to smell pizza from a block away won’t exactly save any lives or foil bad guys. But that doesn’t mean Max won’t do his best to be the hero his school needs! . . .

This is recommended to all middle-schoolers and elementary students! Its a funny book about a boy’s adventurous story that might eventually lead to justice from both thieves and bullies.

For more like this: http://sagarikablogs.com/dork-diaries/

Wild Child

Wild Child, Book One, The Initiation, by Katrina Kahler

(4/5) Ages 10+
Wild Child

Want to know what happened to Sydney from the Mean Girls? Read Wild Child! After accidentally destroying her house, Sydney’s horrible mother decided to move back to New York and put her in an all girls boarding school. The school looked like something from the 1900s, and worse still, Sydney had Harper and her wannabes as her roommates.

Harper was the Queen of the school, and they all knew it; Everyone had to prove their worth by an initiation test. Will Sydney be able to complete the tasks, and prove herself worthy, or will she become an outcast? Find out now..

Why you should read it: It is funny, and full of drama!

For more like this:

http://sagarikablogs.com/category/drama/

Mean Girls, My New Step-Sister -Book

Mean Girls, Book One, My New Step-Sister, By Katrina Kahler

(5/5) Ages 9+
Mean Girls

Mean Girls is a book about how Remmy loved her life back in simple small Sweet Lips. But now she has to move into a random family of strangers in Venice Beach because her dad died, and her mother got remarried. Her new step-sister, Sandy, is a pain, and so are her friends. Well except for Charlie, who is the only one that was actually welcoming. Dealing with Sandy in her new school was going to be hard, but she might be able to make it work with her new friends Bridget and Charlie…

Why you should read this: Drama and humor!

Looking for more like this? Check out this link:

http://sagarikablogs.com/category/katrina-kahler/

Hatchet -Book Review

Hatchet, By Gary Paulsen

Hatchet

Summary

Hatchet is a thrilling survival story about a boy named Brian. One day, the plane he was co-piloting crashed, because the driver had a stroke. So Brian is now stranded in the wilderness, alone, with nothing but a hatchet. As he struggles to find ways to survive, Brian thinks about home. He has a secret. The Secret. But he hasn’t told anyone about it, because its one that could tear his family apart. With thoughts of the Secret running around in his head, how will he be able to overcome the challenges he faces in the wilderness?

It was incredible to read Hatchet. Although it was a survival story, the plot didn’t just revolve around that. It was also about Brian’s emotions and personal life. This helped me empathize with the character, which allowed me to connect with him as well. But the actual survival part of this story is filled with action and adventure, which made it fun to read.

Several parts of the book felt like they got too repetitive; This probably bothered a lot of people, and it did, because the repetitions were very distracting.

Overall, great survival story that paints a picture in your head with its vivid details.

Out of my Mind

Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper

(4/5) Ages: Any
Out of my Mind

In Out of my Mind, a girl named Melody Brooks was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, meaning she can’t walk, she can’t talk, and has no control over her body whatsoever. She’s the smartest girl in her school, but no one knows it. But an opportunity for her to show who she really is comes up, and people start becoming more comfortable with her. Then she gets her first device, a Medi-Talker, designed for kids just like her. With this, Melody Brooks is not going to back down, ever again! She’s ready to show the world what they should really see her for.

Why you should read this: It is inspiring and will leave you wondering just how hard it is for disabled kids/people.

More like this:

http://sagarikablogs.com/category/inspiring-stories/

Big Nate Series

Big Nate, In a Class By Himself, By Lincoln Pierce

(5/5) Ages 9+
Big Nate

Big Nate believes he’s destined for greatness, but middle school is definitely not his place to shine. This changes when he finds a fortune cookie, telling him he’ll “surpass all others”. Teddy and Francis, his two best friends, try to talk some sense into him, but Big Nate’s not budging. The problem is, how will he surpass all others in a middle school called PS 38?

This book is hilarious, as well as all the other books in the series. It’s a joy to read, so what are you waiting for?

For more like this:

http://sagarikablogs.com/category/graphic-novels/

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series -Books

Diary of A Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

(4/5) Ages 7+
Diary of a Wimpy Kid

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley is tired of middle school. He’s stuck between a bunch of dorks and morons, with no way out. Things get worse when someone drops a cheese slice on the blacktop and the cheese touch begins. Greg’s anxiety has spiked to a whole new level, but little did he know, things were only just beginning.

For more like this:

http://sagarikablogs.com/category/humor/