Brittini Trytek, our evening and Saturday Children’s assistant, has written several reviews of Children’s Books for people in grades 3-8. Some reviews are for books on the current William Allen White Reading List and others are for the Battle of The Books.
Take a minute to read the review and, if it seems interesting to you, check-out the book. After you have read it you send your own comments and reviews to us at Cvillepl@coffeyvillepl.org . We will post your ideas!
William Allen White Books
Ghost Dog Secrets By Peg Kehret
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Do you like Ghost and you’re an animal lover?? Boy do I have the book for you!!!!!!. Can you imagine a poor dog abused??? If it makes you sad, like it does me it may be hard to read. A boy named Rusty finds a dog chained to a tree with no food or water. Is this his chance to help the dog?? Does this abused dog have a little guardian angel? Yes, he has a ghost dog with him.
The little boy steals the abused dog….. The mother of the boys finds out and makes him return the dog or does he??? You will have to read to find out what happens next…..
I give it 3 out of 5 Stars *** . The reason why is even though it was written well it was hard for me to read. It made me sad that animals get abused and I didn’t really want to read it at first. Then I wanted to know what happened at the end. The ending is Super!!!!
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
When you get ready to read a book what is the first thing you do? You read the summary and the reviews about the book. Do you know what Asperser’s syndrome is? It’s a type of Autism, but it’s very high functioning. Usually the person is very very bright in a certain area. The main character in the book is a girl with Asperser’s. She is trying to deal with the fact her brother is dead.
Caitlin’s brother went to middle school. Devon was killed at school. Caitlin and her dad are trying to cope with the fact that Devon is gone? Will they be able to cope or will this tear them apart? Guess you will have to read if you want to know!!!
I give this book 5 stars *****!!!!!!! I could not put this book down. It had a good message with a happy ending. It really shows the main character growing through out the book. Everyone should read this!
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Can you imagine what it would feel like to have so much to tell, but not be able to tell it? What if you were eleven years old and you couldn’t speak? What if you couldn’t walk or hold things? Your mind is brilliant, but you can’t tell anyone how you feel. Meet Melody. Melody has some major challenges, but learns a way to communicate with others? Read to find out how!!!
I really liked this book. I could not put it down. It made me appreciate how lucky I am. It showed me that it’s good to be challenged. I gave this book 4 stars ****!!!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Moon Over Manifest By Clare Vanderpool
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Abilene is gone for the summer. Her dad sent her away. She’s not sure how she feels about that. She met Shady which is who she is staying with. She heard a story about a spy and wants to find out more? Who is the spy or what is the spy? Find out more Read this book!
I give these book 3 stars ***. It had great points in the book, but I felt like it was to slow for me to enjoy. It switched back and forth and got confusing. It just wasn’t my type. Doesn’t mean it’s not yours!
Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Are you a Star Wars fan or a nerd? If so you will love this book!! It’s about this boy name Dwight who has a paper Yoda on his finger and he gives advice. The whole book is about these boys trying to figure out if Yoda is real or if Dwight is making up all the advice.
I have never seen Star Wars, but I know I am a little weird and I loved the book! I give it 5 stars *****! I didn’t really fit in to school and neither does these boys. I think this book is for 4th – 6th grade boys or girls.
GuineaDog by Patrick Jennings
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Have you ever wanted a dog so bad? Your parents won’t buy you one! This happens to Rufus. His mom buys him a Guinea Pig Name Fido instead. Fido acts just like a real dog! One problem, he’s not a dog! Rufus and his Dad want to send Fido back to the pet store! Will they?
I give these book five stars *****! This Guinea Pig is really funny! It teaches a good lesson about caring for a pet and showing responsibility. I think everyone should read this book.
Turtle in Paradise By Jennifer L. Holm
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Ever get tired of reading books about girls who always get their way? Here is the book for you. It’s a girl who’s nickname is Turtle and nothing goes right at all for her or her mother. She is sent to live with her aunt and mean cousins. They go on a fun adventure. What happens next does she get her happy ending?
I give this book 4 stars ****. I felt like it was a sad book. I think it had a good life lesson, that nothing goes as planned. I liked this book.
Battle of the Books
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
This book is based on real life facts about this little girl name Penny. She grows up without a father and you really learn what it’s like for her. Her mother and father’s side of the family don’t ever talk to each other. A tragic event causes them to have to talk. Find out what happens next??
I give this book 4 stars ****. I really learned a lot about this little girl and what it was like for her without her dad. I got to see some hardships that made her a really strong person. I learned that with family you can get through anything.
Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Review By Brittni Trytek
If you are a pre teen or teenager girl I have the book for you! It’s about these two girls that live completely opposite lives. You have one girl that uses an out house and one girl who has a two story house! They decide to go into an exchange program! They learn so much about each other. Want to know what they learn? You will have to read!!
I give this book 4 ½ stars **** ½ ! I like these types of books. It really had a message that made me want to read it. I learned that you don’t know someone’s life until you walked in their shoes… I really enjoyed it.
Eleven by Patricia Giff
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Do you like mysteries? This book has a big mystery. This book is about a boy who finds a newspaper clipping saying he was missing. He wonders if he was kidnapped as a child. If you want to know more about Sam and his life you better start reading now!!
I give this book 5 stars *****! I usually don’t like mysteries, but this book kept my attention. I wanted to know more about Sam so I kept reading and reading. It just showed me not everything is what it seems.
Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Wants to read a book back in the day? Want to read a book about a boy who is captured by Indians? If so, I have the book for you!!! It’s this boy’s birthday and they are traveling when he is captured. He goes through a maturing journey. Does he ever get home? You better read to find out!!
I give this 4 stars ****!! It was written well, I’m just not a big history fan. It did however keep my attention. I kept wanting to know what next what next….
The Teacher’s Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts By: Richard Peck
Reviewed By Brittni Trytek
This book is about a boy who doesn’t like school and he finds out his teacher dies. He thinks nothing can get worst till his sister is his teacher. This book goes through pranks brothers do to their sisters. You also get to see a young teenager become a teacher.
I gave this book 4 stars ****! I thought it was funny and the brother and sister battle through the whole book was great. I am a teacher so I took the sister’s side. I think anyone would like this book.
Moon Over Manifest By Clare Vanderpool
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Abilene is gone for the summer. Her dad sent her away. She’s not sure how she feels about that. She met Shady which is who she is staying with. She heard a story about a spy and wants to find out more? Who is the spy or what is the spy? Find out more Read this book!
I give these book 3 stars ***. It had great points in the book, but I felt like it was to slow for me to enjoy. It switched back and forth and got confusing. It just wasn’t my type. Doesn’t mean it’s not yours!
Return to Sender by Julia Alverez
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
This book is about a girl and her Mexican family who is in the U.S. illegally. It gave me what it’s like to be illegal and in our country. It made me not judge that she was her illegally. Maria moves to this farm. Tyler’s Dad can’t do the milking on the farm anymore so they hire a few Mexicans to work for them. What happens when they are illegal???
I give this book 4 stars ****.. I learned that life is never what it seems. It also has a little crush going on by the 12 boy and girl. I got to see her life in her eyes and how hard of a life she had. This whole story goes through the ups and downs of this family.
Soccer Halfback by Matt Christopher
Reviewed by Brittni Trytek
Do you love sports? Want to read a book about Soccer? I have the book for you! It’s about this boy name Jabber who loves playing soccer. Only problem is his deceased father played football. His whole family wanted him to play football. Jabber has a big choice to make? Find out what he picks!!
I thought this book was a 4 star book ****! It kept my attention and it made me like reading about sports. I think it is an excellent book for a boy or a girl.
11 Birthdays By Wendy Mass
Reviewed By: Brittni Trytek
This book is about a girl name Amanda who is turning 11. One problem is she turns 11 more than ten times. She is reliving her birthday over and over again….. She is not alone. Find out who else is having the same problem? How do they stop reliving their birthday over and over again?
I give this book 5 stars ***** !!! I loved it!!!! It had a message about friendship in the book and it was just a really good story. I couldn’t put it down.
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Review by Brittni Trytek
Want to read a book back in the day???? I have the book for you! It’s about this girl name Caddie who is a tomboy. She plays a lot with her brothers, and not so much with her brothers. She becomes friends with an Indian. During those days white people were scared of Indians? Did they go to War? Read to find out!!
I give it 3 stars ***. The beginning of the book is really really slow….. Then it starts to pick up. Towards the middle of the book I can’t put it down. Plus it’s in big print so I can see it really well!
Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
Review by Brittni Trytek
Do you like dogs and stories about war? I have a story for you!!!!! This book is about a boy name Willie who can’t keep his dog Cracker. His family moves to an apartment. So, he gives her to the army. In the army, she finds a wonderful owner name Rick her loves her as much as Willie did!! This is a war do they both make it out alive?
I give this book 3 stars. *** I am just not a big animal book fan. I usually cry on any animal book. It was well written with a good ending. It just took me a few months, because I knew what would happen. I had to read ahead for questions.
