Whitefish Community Library

Reviewed by Brielle Carr, homeschooler.

My Book Review “Ten Thousand Tries” By: Brielle Carr

Ten Thousand Tries, written by Amy Makechnie, is a very heartwarming story. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels like they are struggling with life, as well as to people who aren’t! The main character Golden dreams of becoming a soccer legend and helping his dad survive his battle with ALS. Goolden then finds out his best friend is about to move and soon things begin to crumble. I think we all sometimes feel everything is going wrong, so it was easy for me to bond with Golden. However, my favorite character is Golden’s best friend Lucy. I think the author did an amazing job developing her character. From her blonde braids to her sweet personality, I would be surprised if anyone didn’t like her! I could never choose a favorite part because I enjoyed it all! This read helped me to expand my taste in books and gave me a new perspective on multiple things. I would love to list them but then I would be giving away the ending * wink *. This is easily one of my favorite books and I hope it becomes one of yours as well!

Reviewed by Lucy Bergeson, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

I really loved this book. It really helped me understand basketball more and encouraged me to play more too. There is a character that is named Charlie Bell. He experienced the death of his father and throughout the story, he tries to get through the sadness of the death because it really affected him. I really find it enjoyable that they include basketball throughout the story.

My favorite character in the story is Roxie, Charlie Bell’s cousin. She and her family have darker skin. She has a wonderful, funny, and cheeky personality. She is still young enough to be in school, but I’m not sure which grade she’s in. Roxie really loves basketball and she kinda acts like a tomboy.

My favorite scene in the book is when Roxie, Charlie, and Roxie’s friend win the basketball game against a really good team. They used teamwork and it helped them win. Charlie makes the last shot that makes them win the whole game. It was really inspirational.

Reviewed by Alex Daniels, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

The Story takes place in the Land of Stories and the real world. The characters are Conner, Alex, Froggy, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Jack in the Beanstalk, and the evil witch.

Alex and Conner get a book and figure out that they can go through it so Alex does that and falls through . Conner follows her and they have to find 5 things: Red Riding Hood’s basket, Cinderella’s slipper, Rapunzel’s hair, Snow White’s coffin, and the Little Mermaid dagger.

This book is my favorite book of all time it is fantastic. I do think that the third one is better than the first one. There are 6 books the second book is my least favorite. I think that anyone that is under fifty would like it.

Reviewed by Aleksandra Dennis, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

Warrior cats, the amazing books by Erin Hunter. This amazing fantasy series always made me smile. The group who made the books, called a collective pseudonym, always made the books in the Warrior cat series very exciting and fun, along with the battle scenes and the danger lurking beneath the clans. They never leave any detail out, and when they do it’s always secretive and fun because you can figure out more about the cats.

I really loved that they told detail about a lot of the cats, even if they weren’t the main character because it let’s readers understand what the characters went through and who they are. I also loved the mystery, and secrets they put in the books.

My favorite characters in the books were honestly Brightheart and Jayfeather because it really describes what they went through and how they solved their problems. They were also the most interesting characters in my opinion because Brightheart went through hard times when she was called Lostface and Jayfeather was blind, however he was a medicine cat and still survived even though he was blind.

The whole entire Warrior cat series always kept me guessing and there was never a part in the books when I wasn’t bored. I love the fact that the chapters sometimes end when something crazy just happened because it just made me want to read more.

I don’t really have a favorite part in the books because all the scenes are good, however I really like the battle, and mysterious scenes in all the books because they brighten my day a lot.

Reviewed by Aliza Easterley, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

In the book Dumplin’: Go Big or Go Home the story takes place in a small town in Texas. The main characters are Willowdean (Will), her best friend El, and her sometimes lover Bo and her soon to be friends Hanna, Millie, and Amanda. (Plus her Mom and her dead Aunt Lucy.)

In the story are some amazing, dramatic, twists and turns. Heartbreak, family drama, and everything you could want in a book. Willowdean has to figure things out. But every year in her hometown is the Miss Teen Bluebonnet Beauty pageant. Her being a fat girl has many difficulties along the way but she enters the pageant, with many surprises and twists and turns something amazing will happen. This book is very inspiring for those who might think they are different. Willowdean’s little Texas town has many interesting aspects to it. It’s very interesting through every twist and turn.

I personally found it an amazing book. I would recommend it for the ages of 13 and up. This book is most likely at your public library! Would recommend.

Reviewed by Baylee Ekern-Gonzales, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

This adventure fiction book, written by Stephanie A. Bodeen is about a 15-year-old girl and a middle-aged man who got stuck on a raft after a plane crash in the middle of nowhere. It starts with Robie with her aunt in Honolulu, Hawaii, then she decides to go back with her parents. The engine stopped and she was left with the co-pilot, Max. Robie did all of the work while Max was passed out, such as drying the clothes, getting the water out of the raft, looking for guides, and ensuring that Max was ok.

My favorite character is Robie. The reason why I chose Robie is that she is so brave and smart and she knows how to do things correctly, she may not know things, but she know how to take care of Max, collect water, and look for things that will help her take care of herself and Max.

One of my favorite parts is when Robie found the bailer cup and was able to bail the raft and keep it constant. No matter how tired she was, she still did it.

I would recommend this book to everyone 9+ because there are some parts in the book that kids under the age of 9 wouldn’t understand. I would rate this book 5 stars because I love the way it was written and the wording choice.

Reviewed by Kane Allen Hermann, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is about a boy who’s living with his uncle, aunt, and a cousin because his parents died in a car crash. The author’s name is J. K. Rowling. This boy’s name is Harry Potter, and he gets treated not like any kid should be treated. Doesn’t get fed sometimes, is forced to live in their cupboard, and many more cruel things. Until Harry received an invite to a wizard school known to be Hogwarts. Uncle Dursley burns many invitations but one finds its way to Harry and the Dursleys are forced to take Harry to the train which will take Harry to Hogwarts. The main settings are at the Dursleys’ house, and Hogwarts. The main characters are Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Uncle and Aunt Dursley, Dudley, Professor Snape, Dumbledore, Hagrid, and Voldemort. My favorite character in this book is Harry Potter because he sets a great example of not giving up when things are tough. The story was just so intriguing to me that I had to keep turning the pages because I was just so curious. My favorite part was when Harry Potter received the Invisibility Cloak for Christmas. As well as the part when Uncle Dursley burns the majority of Harry Potter’s invites to Hogwarts in the fireplace, that just kept me laughing. I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is also part of the series, and it’s the first book in the series.

Reviewed by Hank Hoppes, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

This book is historical fiction. The book is about a kid in New York. It tells the life of the boy, Lucas before the attack and after. Also, when it is happening. His dad is a firefighter and when it happens Lucas is in shock, and he ssees his dad going into the building to rescue people. He can’t get his dad’s attention. This book gets your heart racing and makes you want to keep reading the whole way through. I would recommend this book because you get to learn about some history and what was happening at the time. It is a thrilling, and also sad story.

Reviewed by Vivian Hurst, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

This is a review on Wings of Fire. The author of Wings of Fire is Tui T. Sutherland and illustrator Mike Holmes. Sutherland wants Wings of Fire to be friendship, impossible expectations, and a world at war. The first 10 books take place in Pyrrhia and the books 11,12, and 13 take place in Pyrrhia, so these books go all over the place.

There are a lot of great characters in Whings of Fire who are Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight, Sunny, Fatespeaker, Moonwatcher (Moon), Kinkajou, Deathbringer, Riptide, Anemone, Tamrin, Peril, Qibli, Winter, Unber, Flame, Turtle, Sundew, Willow, Luna, Swordtail, Blue, Cricket, Whiteout, Snowfall, Hazel, Darkstalker, Clearsight, Fathom, Indigo, Peacemaker, Bumblebee, and a lot more dragons. Did you know there are over 2,000 characters in Wings of Fire.

There are 15 books, but there are other books like the Wings of Fire: Legends. The message you can take from this book is to use desire, belief and expectations to achieve your goals. Of all the great characters my favorite character is Whiteout because I like how nice and peaceful she is and she is smart too. Wings of Fire is the best book in my opinion and if you love dragons, fun, adventure, and friendship you will like this book.

Reviewed by Kira Johnston, grade 6, Whitefish Middle School.

The book 90 Miles to Havana is historical fiction and the author, Enrique Flores-Galbis was one of the 14,000 other kids that had to flee their homes without their parents to go to refugee camps.

The main characters named Julian ahe he and his 2 brothers had to leave their country Cuba without their parents for dangerous reasons. They went to a camp in Miami for children having to leave their homes and were here in hope of safety and adoption. Julian is 10 and his brothers Alquilino and Gordo who are a few years older. Alquilino is very protective of the brothers while Gordo likes to cause trouble.

I can relate to Julian by how we both like to draw. My favorite character has to be Angelita, a good friend of Julian. She’s my favorite because she does a lot of crazy stuff and its fun reading about her. Angelita has a little brother named Pepe who is very sneaky. They were neighbors with Julian’s family and had to leave for the same reason.

I really like the book and out of 5 I’d give it a 4. The book wasn’t very complicated which I like but other readers may feel different about. Sometimes in the book it would be all dramatic but all the sudden focused on something for so long it got a little boring. Readers who enjoy long books that don’t use very complicated words and are dramatic and adventurous would enjoy this book. This is probably one of my favorite books.