Flipped

Flipped

By Wendelin van Draanen; Scholastic 2001

Summary: Bryce and Juli tell the story of their relationship. It all began in second grade when Bryce moves in across the street from Juli. Juli instantly has a crush on Bryce, who doesn’t reciprocate, and throughout elementary school he tries to avoid her. In middle school, they both start to realize Bryce’s flaws.  When Bryce begins to try to change, he starts to notice Juli’s good points. Their families and other things outside of them undergo several changes as well.

My Review: The chapters in this novel switch between both Juli and Byrce’s stories and their point of views with their interactions with each other. I laughed the hardest at Juli’s point of view because I can totally relate to her thoughts and actions. This entire book is hilarious because I believe all of us can relate to both of these kids.

Watch Out For: fights, crushes, thoughts of kissing.

Movie: 

Ella Enchanted (100th Book Review)

Ella Enchanted

By Gail Carson Levine; Scholastic 1997

Summary: Ella is blessed with the gift of obedience by the fairy Lucinda when she was born. Whenever Ella is told to do something, she must do it, including promising never to revel her terrible secret. When Ella’s mother dies, her father remarries and she is sent to finishing school with her nasty stepsisters, Hattie and Olive. Ella runs away in search of Lucinda to beg to lift the curse, Luncida refuses and Ella returns home and resigns herself to a life of drudgery. Prince Charmont is in love with her, but Ella knows she can never marry him because she could put him in grave danger. Can Ella liberate herself from this evil gift?

My Review: First of all, the movie Ella Enchanted is crap. It doesn’t do justice for the book. The book is straight up amazing. Ella is strong, determined, and very obedient. I love her cleverness she uses with everyone and to avoid obedient commands. I’ve always found this book to be hilarious and romantic. Prince Charmont and Ella letters and conversations are beautiful. This is a must read because all of us can relate to Ella is some way or another.  

Watch Out For: Captured by human-eating ogres, trickery, running away, death, evil stepmother and sisters.

Uranus

Uranus

By Gregory L. Vogt; The Millbrook Press 1993

Summary: An introduction to the blueish-greenish planet, discovered in 1781 by Sir William Herschel. This planet has a ring system and is about four times bigger than the Earth. Uranus has 15 moons and five are named for characters in plays by William Shakespeare.

My Review: I love reading about our solar system and the planets found in it. In this simple nonfiction book about the planet Uranus, it gives quick facts about the planet, it compares Uranus to Earth, information about Uranus’s moons, and a glossary to help with words children won’t understand. I found it to be an insightful book.

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.

The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow
By Elizabeth George Speare; Houghton Mifflin Company 1961

Summary: Daniel is a young Jew who has an intense hatred for the Romans. He lives with in an outlaw band in the hills where he works as a blacksmith and as a freedom fighter. When his grandmother dies, he must move to the village to take care of his sister, who hasn’t left the house since their parents died. While living in the village, he works as a blacksmith and secretly starts to recruit members for an uprising against the Romans. He finds the friendship of Joel and Malthace, twins, who make a vow to live and die for God’s Victory. There is miracle worker named Jesus who speaks and helps many people in the villages and Daniel wonders if this teacher may be the leader who will help him in his vengeance.

My Review:
WOW! This is such a well done book. It is in no way a
difficult read. It flows nicely and keeps you on your toes as you follow the life of this incredible boy named Daniel. Daniel is quite serious and determined to continually try to seek vengeance against the Romans. I felt so sorry for him most of the time because he was so full of hate.

Hate Vs. Love is a strong theme in this book. Daniel struggles between the two throughout this entire book.
Now the title of this book plays a part in the story. The bronze bow is a password that Daniel and his gang use to communicate. It is taken from a psalm of David. Hate can try to bend a bow of bronze, but the question is can love do the same thing? (Guess you’ll have to find out!)

The only thing I struggled with was the ending. I felt that it was rushed and it wasn’t the ending I expected at all! I was kind of hoping that there would be more to the story. But alas, it was an appropriate ending I guess. You decide for yourself if you like it or not.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book for all ages. It truly is an excellent read and the story is amazing!

Things To Watch Out For: Revenge, death, killings, religious, mentioning’s of demons, vows, a little racism, romantic tension, Hate, etc…