REALISTIC FICTION

Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Patterson

Summary: Jess Aarons wants to be the fastest boy in the class. He works on running all summer. On the first day of school, all the boys have a race. A girl comes over to the boy’s side of the playground and beats them all. Somehow, Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable friends. Together, with their imaginations, they create a magical kingdom, Terabithia. Read this book to hear more about their adventures.

Why I wanted to read this book: I like reading about things that could happen to real people..

What was good and not so good about this book: I liked the way you feel like you are in the book right there.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes to read about real things that could happen in your life will enjoy this book.

Written by A.R.H.

Title: Ida B and her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (possibly) Save the World

Author: Katherine Hannigan

Summary: Ida B’s mother gets cancer, so her parents start sending her to school and they sell part of their orchard. Ida B gets very depressed and her heart turns cold. One day, the family that bought the part of the orchard comes and walks on their land. Ida B. sees them and starts screaming at the kids. After the family leaves, she doesn’t fell feel well about what she had done and some days after the incident she apologizes. In the end, Ida B stops being depressed and her heart starts having love instead of resentment.

Why I wanted to read this book: I read this book because it sounded interesting.

What was good and not so good about this book: The book was good because what Ida B was going through seemed very, very realistic. There was nothing negative in the book.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? If you like dramatic stories then you will really enjoy this book.

Written by M.I.

Title: Shredderman: Secret Identity

Author: Wendelin Van Drannen

Summary: Nolan Byrd is pushed around by a big bully named Alvin “Bubba” Bixby. However, when their teacher, Mr. Green, tells his class to make a newspaper, Nolan gets pictures of Bubby bullying other children. He puts these pictures on his website, Shredderman.com. When people visit his site, they start standing up to Bubba. Bubba’s parents come and take him away, and Nolan is the hero of the school, though no one knows because his secret identity is kept hidden.

Why I wanted to read this book: I wanted to read this book because it looked good.

What was good and not so good about this book: I liked how Nolan used hid brains to stand up to a bully.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes realistic fiction will enjoy this book.

Written by N.D.

Title: Fame and Glory in Freedom Georgia

Author: Barbara O’Connor

Summary: Once there was a girl named Bird, who’s only friend is a lady named Miss Dalphine. One day a new boy comes to school named Harlem. Bird really wants to be friends with him so she asks him to be her partner in the spelling bee. They study very hard together and Bird finds out that Harlem is a very good speller.

Why I wanted to read this book: This book is nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award so I wanted to read it.

What was good and not so good about this book: I liked everything about his book except the description of the condition of Miss Dalphine’s father.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes very determined girls like Bird will like this book.

Written by J.O.

Title: The Hot and Cold Summer

Author: Joanna Hurwitz

Summary: Rory and Derek are next door neighbors and best friends. Bolivia comes to stay with her aunt and her aunt wants the three of them to be friends. Rory and Derek do not want to be friends with a girl so they ignore her. But, it’s hard for Derek to ignore a girl with a pet bird and parents who are archeologists. Rory gets mad at Derek because he is not ignoring Bolivia. Derek goes off to camp and Rory begins to understand about finding friends where you least expect to find them.

Why I wanted to read this book: Normally I would not choose a book that has two boys as the main characters. This book was different though because their new best friend is a girl. I like stories about friendships so that’s why I chose this book.

What was good and not so good about this book: It is funny. I liked Bolivia a lot because she is kind and humorous. I want to get a bird now because she had one. One thing I did not like is that the two boys are mean to Bolivia in the beginning.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? This is a great book for anyone who is in a new school, new town, or any other situation where they are the new person in a group. It would also be a great book for somebody who’s best friend goes off to camp because it encourages new friendships.

Written by H.A.

Title: There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom

Author: Louis Sachar

Summary: Bradley Chalkers, the main character, is a bully who is not interested in doing his homework or being nic to other children at school. Jeff joins Bradley’s school. Jeff is not one of Bradley’s friends at first, but when they become friends, Jeff introduces Bradley to homework and being nice to other children. Once after Bradley gets a black eye from a girl, he hides in the Girls’ Bathroom by mistake because other students are making fun of him. When he is caught by two girls, he runs out to the counselor’s office. Will Bradley be able to deal with his problem?

Why I wanted to read this book: The title sounded interesting because I could not imagine a boy going into the girls’ bathroom. The picture on the book cover is very funny too.

What was good and not so good about this book: The part when Bradley is in the girls’ bathroom is very funny. I did not like when Bradley and Jeff were put on the spot when they were about to fight.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? I would not recommend it for 3^rd graders because of the scary parts, but I would recommend it for some 4^th and 5^th graders who like adventure.

Written by C. B.

Title: Because of Winn Dixie

Author: Kate Di Camillo

Summary: A girl named India Opal moves to Florida. She has lost her mother and her father is a preacher. She doesn’t know anyone in Florida but that changes when she finds a dog in a grocery store. She calls him Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie changes her summer and she makes lots of friends because of him.

Why I wanted to read this book: I like animal and realistic fiction.

What was good and not so good about this book: I loved this whole book!!!

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Someone who enjoys animal and realistic fiction books will enjoy this book.

Written by R.B.

Title: All the Way Home

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

Summary: The book is about a girl who lives in town and had polio when she was four. It is also about a boy who lives on a farm. The boy moves in with the girl and then together they take a bus back to his farm. You will have to read the rest.

Why I wanted to read this book: I read this book because it was on the Bluebonnet Reading List.

What was good and not so good about this book: I really liked the ending of this book.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? I think girls with a sense of adventure would enjoy this book.

Written by K. S.

Title: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Author: Judy Blume

Summary: The characters are: Fudge (The Star), Peter (brother), and family. Fudge is always getting on Peter’s nerves. Peter is getting really tired of it too. Fudge is also very nuts. In the end, Fudge learns how to share with others. He also learns to respect everything that is not his.

Why I wanted to read this book: I wanted to read this book because it seemed funny.

What was good and not so good about this book: This entire book was good. It is the best book ever. I am going to read other books in the series.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes Judy Blume or loves humor will enjoy this book.

Written by L.G.

Title: Flipped

Author: Wenddelin Van Draanen

Summary: Julianna Baker is a girl, an unusual one. She raises chickens. Then, a boy named Bryce Loski moves in next door. Julianna sees him and his blue eyes and she is in love. While Julianna’s in Lovey Dovey land, Bryce hates her. Then in the 8^th grade, it all turns around.

Why I wanted to read this book: I wanted to read this book because it was a Bluebonnet Book.

What was good and not so good about this book: I liked everything about this book.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes chickens will enjoy this book!

Written by A.A.

Title: Double Fudge

Author: Judy Blume

Summary: Double Fudge is about Peter and Farley (Fudge) and how they find their long lost cousins, the Howe Hatchers. They have two twin sisters who finish each others sentences. They are called the Natural Beauties. There is also a little boy a little bit younger than Fudge who is named Farley Drexel Hatcher, just like Fudge. While Fudge is a miser for Halloween, Farley is going to be Fudge!

Why I wanted to read this book: I was reading the Fudge series and I read the back of another book and wanted to know what happened in this book.

What was good and not so good about this book: Everything was good about the book! It was one of the best books I have read! I loved it!

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Readers who like humor will enjoy this book.

Written by L. G.

Title: Fudge-a-mania

Author: Judy Blume

Summary: This book is very funny. When Fudge and Pete’s family goes to a vacation house in Maine, Pete’s worst enemy’s family is invited by Pete’s Mom. So, now Pete is stuck being babysat by his worst enemy. The worst thing is that they are the same age. Fudge, on the other hand, thinks he is getting “married” to Pete’s worst enemy Sheila. Will Pete survive? Will Fudge get “married” to Shelia?

Why I wanted to read this book: I wanted to read this book because I had read Double Fudge and Super Fudge and I thought that this book would be as good as those books, and it was.

What was good and not so good about this book: I liked this book because it was funny and I liked the part when Pete’s worst enemy went on vacation with them. That was an interesting part.

Who else do you think would enjoy this book? Any aged kids who like laughing will enjoy this book.

Written by J. M.