Wednesday, November 29, 2017

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman


I really wasn't sure about reading this book.  I like Gordon Korman's books, but this one didn't stand out to me.  My mom insisted I try it anyhow and I am really glad she did.

Wallace Wallace is the most honest person you will ever meet. Ever since he was little, he has told the truth and nothing but the truth. One day, his truth telling abilities go too far when he tells his English teacher what he really thinks about the about an assigned book, which happens to be their teacher's favorite one Old Shep My Pal.

As his punishment, he has to serve detention at the play rehearsal for Old Shep My Pal until he writes a proper book report. As he serves detention, he uses his truth telling skills to give his opinion and ends up changing the play from the boring original to what he thinks it should be.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The storyline, the action, the emotion, it all just clicked for me. I loved how every chapter and every part was told by a different character resembling a different point of view. I liked how Wallace's truth telling skills were good, but sometimes it backfired on him.  The characters were so real and how they were described showed what they looked like in my head. I really hope Gordon Korman writes a sequel to this one.

Monday, November 27, 2017

I Survived ... Series by Lauren Tarshis


The "I Survived" series is about fictional kids living during real live events like the sinking of the Titanic and the Great Chicago Fire. In each one, you learn about the actual event that is going on and the characters in it.  Besides being good reads, these books also teach you a lot about what was happening at that point in time.

Some of my favorites are:

I Survived The Battle of Gettysburg - In this book, Thomas and his little sister, Birdie, are born and raised slaves. One day, they run away and march with an army to war.

I Survived Hurricane Katrina - In this book, when Hurricane Katrina hits, Barry and his dog are stuck on an overturned car to wait out the storm.

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor - In this book, a boy named Danny is trapped on the Hawaiian shore at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack begins.

I loved all the books and hope the author comes out with more. There are currently 15 books in the series and a side series called I Survived True Stories.  I think these stories would appeal to both boys and girls who enjoy history or historical fiction.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Jackie Ha-Ha by James Patterson


I wasn't sure how much I would like this book when I first picked up. The pink cover with girl as the main character almost turned me away, but since it was by James Patterson, one of my favorite authors, I decided to give it a shot.

This is about a girl named Jacky Hart who is telling her daughters about her childhood as Jacky Ha-Ha. She loves to make people laugh, even with her stutter, but makes a promise atop a ferris wheel to try and be more mature. With her mom gone and dad doing something fishy, Jacky and her sisters are left running and cleaning the house. How will Jacky survive when the new English teacher wants her to try out for the school play and make a speech in public?


Even though this book did not appear to be what I normally read, I really enjoyed it. I like how, even though she lived with many sisters, the littlest one was practically in charge. I love how the funny storyline also had some mystery in it. I think that this book is meant to show that you should you can't accomplish anything without believing in yourself first. I'm excited to read the next one when it comes out and I think all kids who enjoy James Patterson books will enjoy this one too.