Congratulations Hauppauge... the 2009 County-wide Battle of the Books Champions!
Here's a bit of background on the program and what how the events unfolded on the day of the Battle:
On June 1st 2009, the titles for the 13th Annual Battle of the Books competition were announced. The books were: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Love among the Walnuts by Jean Farris, Hidden Talents by David Lubar, Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Marley: a dog like no other by John Grogran, The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Last Shot: a final four mystery by John Feinstein.
It is Hauppauge’s fifth year competing in this county-wide competition. Teens entering grades 6-9 were encouraged to join this year’s summer-long program. During the month of July we had several meetings practicing the trivia from each of the books, coming up with a team name and concept for our costume, discussing the books and generally having fun!
At the end of July, we competed in a “mock” battle with Middle Country Public Library and Longwood Public Library, where we scored second place- MCPL scored the highest. After the mock battle all of our team member’s individual scores were calculated and the final six team members were chosen. Their scores were based on quizzes taken throughout the summer, fact sheets they completed, attendance at weekly meetings, and book reviews they submitted to our Library’s Teen Frequency Blog. (We have a few more reviews on their way... keep your eyes open for that in the next few days!)
On Saturday, August 15th 2009, the 6 final team members represented Hauppauge in the county-wide Battle. We battled in the morning session against 17 other teams. Our scores were: Round 1: 19 out of 20 questions correct; Round 2: 15 out of 20 correct; Round 3: 15 out of 20 correct; and Round 4: 16 out of 20 correct. We scored a total of 65 points for the morning session, placing second out of the 18 teams. Emma S. Clark Library in Setauket placed first with 68 points. The two top scorers move on to the semi-finals so we were informed that Hauppauge would indeed be in the semi-finals!
Our team met back at Stony Brook University later that night to have a playoff with the three other top scoring teams: Emma S. Clark and Hauppauge were from the morning session and Hampton Bays and Babylon were from the afternoon session. The first semi-final round was between Emma S. Clark and Babylon with Babylon emerging the winner. The second semi-final round was between Hauppauge and Hampton Bays with Hauppauge emerging the winner. The final lightning round was between Hauppauge and Babylon. Just imagine: sitting on a stage with microphones, where the questions could come from any of the eight books and any team member could answer, but it had to be in 3 seconds! Three seconds! The questions were difficult and the competition was fierce, but in the end Hauppauge was named the official 2009 county-wide Battle of the Books Champions!
We also took the honor for the “Team Spirit” award. This is an award given by the judges based on the enthusiasm and spirit of both the team members as well as the team’s supporters in the audience. It’s a testament to how wonderful and supportive the Hauppauge community was throughout the whole competition.
I am honored to have worked with this year’s team and extremely proud of all of the hard work and dedication it took for them to emerge the 2009 County-wide Battle of the Books Champions! Our team name certainly couldn’t be more true: we ARE Hauppauge: a team like no other!
Monday, August 17, 2009
2009 Battle of the Books Champions!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Battle of the Books: Reviews for Marley: a dog like no other
Marley: a dog like no other by John Grogan
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was pretty good. I liked the way they used personification and gave Marley a really cool personality. The story really made you feel like laughing. I'm not particularly fond of dogs, but I don't hate them either. But this book was really good, no matter what type of animal you like. I definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Marley: A dog like no other is an amazing book. This book can make you laugh, cry, and smile all in one. I loved this book. When the Grogans are ready to adopt a dog, they choose Marley, a tiny, little rambunctious furball. John wants his new puppy to be like the dog he had as a kid, "Saint" Shaun. Will he be? Read this book to find out!
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
This book is about a family dog who is "full of life." He enjoys chomping on frisbees eating mangoes and driving his family insane. This book chronicles the life of Marley and the life of the family that he belongs to. In fact through Marley's thirteen year lifespan, a family grows and matures. However, that story is overshadowed by Marley's antics. Anyone who is looking for a good laugh should read the book BEFORE watching the movie because the book makes the movie easier to understand and it adds dramatic irony to the movie. For anyone looking for a good book Marley: a dog like no other is the book for you.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Marley: a dog like no other is the kid version of Marley & Me. If you have seen the movie, that's great. As always, the book has more detail. It talks about John Grogan's exact feelings for Marley. You can easily picture every crazy thing Marley does. And the names he is called (Mr.Wiggles, the Labrador evader...). If you want to know what the craziest dog can do, I suggest you read Marley: a dog like no other.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
Marley is a rambunctious, loud, silly, and ill-mannered golden retriever. He jumps on guests, chews anything he sees, and doesn't know when enough is enough. John and his wife, Jenny, have easily learned that Marley is not the easiest dog to cope with. His bouncing puppy years were cute, but unfortunately, he did not grow out of his unruly ways. Will Marley ever learn how to behave, be polite, or be reasonable at all?
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is very sad and I would not recommend it for animal lovers. It was a very good book, but very sad.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
This was the only Battle book that I did not like this year. I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, knowing how it ended, but knew I had to. I don’t usually steer clear of sad books- in fact; I enjoy a good cry every now and then. But this book was different. I didn’t like the author’s writing style, so for me the good parts didn’t even out with the sad parts. I felt like there wasn’t enough of a story (beyond some cute and/or funny anecdotes) to carry me through to the end- an end that I knew was going to be a tear-jerker. I kind of felt manipulated the whole time. I heard the adult version (Marley and Me) was full of more detail so maybe that version might be different for me, but honestly I don’t even want to bother. I have too many other books on my “list of things to read.” On the bright side- it was a short book that didn’t take too long to read.
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was pretty good. I liked the way they used personification and gave Marley a really cool personality. The story really made you feel like laughing. I'm not particularly fond of dogs, but I don't hate them either. But this book was really good, no matter what type of animal you like. I definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Marley: A dog like no other is an amazing book. This book can make you laugh, cry, and smile all in one. I loved this book. When the Grogans are ready to adopt a dog, they choose Marley, a tiny, little rambunctious furball. John wants his new puppy to be like the dog he had as a kid, "Saint" Shaun. Will he be? Read this book to find out!
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
This book is about a family dog who is "full of life." He enjoys chomping on frisbees eating mangoes and driving his family insane. This book chronicles the life of Marley and the life of the family that he belongs to. In fact through Marley's thirteen year lifespan, a family grows and matures. However, that story is overshadowed by Marley's antics. Anyone who is looking for a good laugh should read the book BEFORE watching the movie because the book makes the movie easier to understand and it adds dramatic irony to the movie. For anyone looking for a good book Marley: a dog like no other is the book for you.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Marley: a dog like no other is the kid version of Marley & Me. If you have seen the movie, that's great. As always, the book has more detail. It talks about John Grogan's exact feelings for Marley. You can easily picture every crazy thing Marley does. And the names he is called (Mr.Wiggles, the Labrador evader...). If you want to know what the craziest dog can do, I suggest you read Marley: a dog like no other.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
Marley is a rambunctious, loud, silly, and ill-mannered golden retriever. He jumps on guests, chews anything he sees, and doesn't know when enough is enough. John and his wife, Jenny, have easily learned that Marley is not the easiest dog to cope with. His bouncing puppy years were cute, but unfortunately, he did not grow out of his unruly ways. Will Marley ever learn how to behave, be polite, or be reasonable at all?
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is very sad and I would not recommend it for animal lovers. It was a very good book, but very sad.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
This was the only Battle book that I did not like this year. I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, knowing how it ended, but knew I had to. I don’t usually steer clear of sad books- in fact; I enjoy a good cry every now and then. But this book was different. I didn’t like the author’s writing style, so for me the good parts didn’t even out with the sad parts. I felt like there wasn’t enough of a story (beyond some cute and/or funny anecdotes) to carry me through to the end- an end that I knew was going to be a tear-jerker. I kind of felt manipulated the whole time. I heard the adult version (Marley and Me) was full of more detail so maybe that version might be different for me, but honestly I don’t even want to bother. I have too many other books on my “list of things to read.” On the bright side- it was a short book that didn’t take too long to read.
Additional thoughts by Ms. Meghan
I was a little wary about reading Marley and Me because I had already read the adult version of it. I loved the beginning of the adult version but couldn’t get over the ending. It reminded me to much of the time with my own dog many years ago. The children’s version did have some fun stories which may have you laughing in it about Marley. If you are prepared for how it ends then I would recommend the book to you. You’ll get to read about a lovable dog that’s quite rambunctious causing him to stir up some trouble.
I was a little wary about reading Marley and Me because I had already read the adult version of it. I loved the beginning of the adult version but couldn’t get over the ending. It reminded me to much of the time with my own dog many years ago. The children’s version did have some fun stories which may have you laughing in it about Marley. If you are prepared for how it ends then I would recommend the book to you. You’ll get to read about a lovable dog that’s quite rambunctious causing him to stir up some trouble.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Battle of the Books: Reviews for Love among the Walnuts
Love among the Walnuts by Jean Ferris
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was okay. It was kind of romantic, so that was the bad part. I hate romance stories. But it was also good because the main character had an evil uncle who tried to kill him, his friends, and his family many times and even committed arson. So that was a good part. So it was pretty average. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Love among the walnuts. Crazy title? You won't think that after you've read this book.
If your parents were rich, what would you do? Do everything you've ever wanted to do? For Sandy Huntington-Ackerman, that answer is a no. Sandy lived in an amazing house in the middle of nowhere throughout his childhood. The only weird thing was that, down the road from his house was a place called Walnut Manor, a loony bin for only the craziest patients. Or so he thought...
Read this book to discover love, true friendship, and an unrelated family. I really liked this book and I hope you do too!
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
In the beginning of Love among the Walnuts, you learn about how Hortatio and Mousey fall in love and have a child named Sandy. On Eclipse Manor, where the new family lives, life is great. They spend lots of time with each other, learning and living happily cut off from the outside world. Because Hortatio is one of the richest men in the world, they are able to live comfortably with the only thing to bring them down, monthly visits from Hortatio's awful brothers, Bart and Bernie. And when Bart and Bernie become jealous of Hortatio's money and poison him and Mousey, it becomes up to Sandy, his faithful butler, a very nice young nurse, and the residents at the hospital, Walnut Manor, next door to save Sandy's parents and foil Bart and Bernie's plans to steal Hortatio's fortune while he is in a coma. Love among the Walnuts is a great tale of love, friendship, and mystery that is guaranteed to keep you reading until the very end.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
This story is about a young boy who has been totally isolated from real life who is brutally forced into reality by his two evil uncles who are struggling to kill their brother because they crave his immense fortune. After eating a poisoned birthday cake Horatio Huntington-Ackerman (one of the richest men in the US), his wife, a family friend and the family pet fall into a coma. Sandy (Horatio's son) must stop his uncles from hurting his parents while learning to manage the family fortune. This book is hilarious (due to the uncles' mediocre schemes) and is a must read for anyone looking for a good laugh.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Love among the Walnuts is about a boy (Sandy) who grows up on a property called Eclipse with his billionaire father, his actress mother, his butler and his wife, a cat named Louie, and a chicken named Attila. Sandy's whole world goes topsy turvy when his parents, butler’s wife, and chicken go into a coma. This book is a page-turning-love-story-thriller.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
"Love among the Walnuts" was an amazing book about love, friendship, and courage. Horatio has lived on his country mansion for years with his family. However, this changes when his evil brothers poison him with birthday cake. Horatio, his wife, and their butler's wife are found in a coma the next morning. It is now up to Sandy, his butler, and their friends at Walnut Manor to find a cure for the coma, prove Horatio's brothers guilty, and save the family fortune.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is very funny. It shows the life of a boy who learns that the life he grew up with is not the life outside of his little bubble.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I loved this book! The characters were so unbelievably unique, as was the setting and the storyline. It had that feel-good aspect to it that I found in Jean Ferris’ other novel, “Once upon a Marigold.” There was something about both of those novels that made me feel like it was perfect story-telling: not straight-forward fantasy, and nothing to do with magic really, but somehow it felt “magical”, almost like there’s a really thin veil of something that you view the story through. Maybe it’s the eccentric characters or the over-the-top plotline, but something about the way this author writes makes me suspend my views of normalcy. Eclipse manor seemed like such a perfect little utopia, I wanted to be a part of it so badly while reading this... except when some of the members slipped into a coma! This was a sweet story that I enjoyed tremendously!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was okay. It was kind of romantic, so that was the bad part. I hate romance stories. But it was also good because the main character had an evil uncle who tried to kill him, his friends, and his family many times and even committed arson. So that was a good part. So it was pretty average. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Love among the walnuts. Crazy title? You won't think that after you've read this book.
If your parents were rich, what would you do? Do everything you've ever wanted to do? For Sandy Huntington-Ackerman, that answer is a no. Sandy lived in an amazing house in the middle of nowhere throughout his childhood. The only weird thing was that, down the road from his house was a place called Walnut Manor, a loony bin for only the craziest patients. Or so he thought...
Read this book to discover love, true friendship, and an unrelated family. I really liked this book and I hope you do too!
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
In the beginning of Love among the Walnuts, you learn about how Hortatio and Mousey fall in love and have a child named Sandy. On Eclipse Manor, where the new family lives, life is great. They spend lots of time with each other, learning and living happily cut off from the outside world. Because Hortatio is one of the richest men in the world, they are able to live comfortably with the only thing to bring them down, monthly visits from Hortatio's awful brothers, Bart and Bernie. And when Bart and Bernie become jealous of Hortatio's money and poison him and Mousey, it becomes up to Sandy, his faithful butler, a very nice young nurse, and the residents at the hospital, Walnut Manor, next door to save Sandy's parents and foil Bart and Bernie's plans to steal Hortatio's fortune while he is in a coma. Love among the Walnuts is a great tale of love, friendship, and mystery that is guaranteed to keep you reading until the very end.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
This story is about a young boy who has been totally isolated from real life who is brutally forced into reality by his two evil uncles who are struggling to kill their brother because they crave his immense fortune. After eating a poisoned birthday cake Horatio Huntington-Ackerman (one of the richest men in the US), his wife, a family friend and the family pet fall into a coma. Sandy (Horatio's son) must stop his uncles from hurting his parents while learning to manage the family fortune. This book is hilarious (due to the uncles' mediocre schemes) and is a must read for anyone looking for a good laugh.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Love among the Walnuts is about a boy (Sandy) who grows up on a property called Eclipse with his billionaire father, his actress mother, his butler and his wife, a cat named Louie, and a chicken named Attila. Sandy's whole world goes topsy turvy when his parents, butler’s wife, and chicken go into a coma. This book is a page-turning-love-story-thriller.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
"Love among the Walnuts" was an amazing book about love, friendship, and courage. Horatio has lived on his country mansion for years with his family. However, this changes when his evil brothers poison him with birthday cake. Horatio, his wife, and their butler's wife are found in a coma the next morning. It is now up to Sandy, his butler, and their friends at Walnut Manor to find a cure for the coma, prove Horatio's brothers guilty, and save the family fortune.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is very funny. It shows the life of a boy who learns that the life he grew up with is not the life outside of his little bubble.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I loved this book! The characters were so unbelievably unique, as was the setting and the storyline. It had that feel-good aspect to it that I found in Jean Ferris’ other novel, “Once upon a Marigold.” There was something about both of those novels that made me feel like it was perfect story-telling: not straight-forward fantasy, and nothing to do with magic really, but somehow it felt “magical”, almost like there’s a really thin veil of something that you view the story through. Maybe it’s the eccentric characters or the over-the-top plotline, but something about the way this author writes makes me suspend my views of normalcy. Eclipse manor seemed like such a perfect little utopia, I wanted to be a part of it so badly while reading this... except when some of the members slipped into a coma! This was a sweet story that I enjoyed tremendously!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Battle of the Books: Reviews for The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Reviewed by James, Gr. 8
If you like action and mystery books, this is the book for you. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, is a kid that lives with his mom in NYC and gets expelled from every school he’s been at. If you like Greek mythology you won’t be able to put this down like me.
P.S. This is way better than Twilight and possibly Maximum Ride, not that I’ve read Twilight.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
The Lightning Thief is a book mainly about Greek mythology. It also has a mix of adventure, friendship, and monsters. I really liked this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
I was truly worried about reading this book. I heard and interesting review and truthfully I judged the book by its cover. However I was pleasantly surprised when I began to read this book. It tells the story of a young boy named Percy who attends a special school in Upstate New York. His world is turned upside down when he is attacked by a Fury, one of the mythical god Hades' demons. He is later recruited by a summer camp that houses the sons and daughters of Greek gods and goddesses. Percy is later sent on a quest to find Zeus' master lightning bolt to stop an inevitable war from occurring on Mount Olympus. This book was an excellent read and I finished it in about two and a half hours. It is packed with adventure, suspense and romance.
Reviewed by Brian, Gr. 7
This novel by Rick Riordan had the perfect mix of suspense and action. The plot was perfectly paced; never leaving you confused half way through the book. The thought of gods and demigods from Greek mythology still existing today is creative and cool. The story is unpredictable and will keep you on the edge of your seat. And if you're thinking this is just another 'Rescue the princess!' story, you're way off. So if you ever get the chance, grab The Lightning Thief and read it!
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Lightning Thief has a lot of history of the Greek gods. It is a mix of adventure and well, history. I think that all of the Greek stories are interesting, therefore I enjoyed it. If you do not like the history of the Greek gods, I would not recommend this book to you.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I think this book was at the very top of my list of favorites for Battle books this year. I say “think” only because this year’s list was full of such good books that I’m really having a hard time deciding which was my absolute favorite! I don’t know if one of the influencing factors is that this is the last of the Battle books that I read… so it’s still so fresh in my mind as of right now. Either way, this book was awesome! It was non-stop action from start to finish. It was a creative story with loads and loads of Greek mythology. For me, if I finish reading a book and want to “learn more about it” then I know the author did a good job with the subject matter. I want to learn more about Greek mythology! Although they were hard to remember, the fact that the names of the Greek gods and heroes still live on in today’s society, fascinates me. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
Reviewed by James, Gr. 8
If you like action and mystery books, this is the book for you. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, is a kid that lives with his mom in NYC and gets expelled from every school he’s been at. If you like Greek mythology you won’t be able to put this down like me.
P.S. This is way better than Twilight and possibly Maximum Ride, not that I’ve read Twilight.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
The Lightning Thief is a book mainly about Greek mythology. It also has a mix of adventure, friendship, and monsters. I really liked this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
I was truly worried about reading this book. I heard and interesting review and truthfully I judged the book by its cover. However I was pleasantly surprised when I began to read this book. It tells the story of a young boy named Percy who attends a special school in Upstate New York. His world is turned upside down when he is attacked by a Fury, one of the mythical god Hades' demons. He is later recruited by a summer camp that houses the sons and daughters of Greek gods and goddesses. Percy is later sent on a quest to find Zeus' master lightning bolt to stop an inevitable war from occurring on Mount Olympus. This book was an excellent read and I finished it in about two and a half hours. It is packed with adventure, suspense and romance.
Reviewed by Brian, Gr. 7
This novel by Rick Riordan had the perfect mix of suspense and action. The plot was perfectly paced; never leaving you confused half way through the book. The thought of gods and demigods from Greek mythology still existing today is creative and cool. The story is unpredictable and will keep you on the edge of your seat. And if you're thinking this is just another 'Rescue the princess!' story, you're way off. So if you ever get the chance, grab The Lightning Thief and read it!
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Lightning Thief has a lot of history of the Greek gods. It is a mix of adventure and well, history. I think that all of the Greek stories are interesting, therefore I enjoyed it. If you do not like the history of the Greek gods, I would not recommend this book to you.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I think this book was at the very top of my list of favorites for Battle books this year. I say “think” only because this year’s list was full of such good books that I’m really having a hard time deciding which was my absolute favorite! I don’t know if one of the influencing factors is that this is the last of the Battle books that I read… so it’s still so fresh in my mind as of right now. Either way, this book was awesome! It was non-stop action from start to finish. It was a creative story with loads and loads of Greek mythology. For me, if I finish reading a book and want to “learn more about it” then I know the author did a good job with the subject matter. I want to learn more about Greek mythology! Although they were hard to remember, the fact that the names of the Greek gods and heroes still live on in today’s society, fascinates me. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
Additional thoughts by Ms. Meghan
Before reading Lightening Thief I thought that it would be one of my least favorite Battle books. I started reading it and my thoughts quickly changed. It was an action packed story that riveted me from the start. I was fascinated by the different characters in the story and it made me want to know more about Greek mythology. I absolutely loved it and consider it one of my favorite books. I can’t wait to read the continuing story of Percy in the next book Sea of Monsters.
Before reading Lightening Thief I thought that it would be one of my least favorite Battle books. I started reading it and my thoughts quickly changed. It was an action packed story that riveted me from the start. I was fascinated by the different characters in the story and it made me want to know more about Greek mythology. I absolutely loved it and consider it one of my favorite books. I can’t wait to read the continuing story of Percy in the next book Sea of Monsters.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Battle of the Books: Reviews for Last Shot
Last Shot: A final four mystery by John Feinstein
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was pretty good. It was a sports story and it was kind of realistic fiction too. It was a basketball novel. It is told from a reporter point of view, and most sport novels aren't. I liked this book a lot for the unique way it was told. 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Stevie loves basketball. He loves writing about it. He is so happy when he wins the USBWA writing competition along with a southern girl named Susan Carol. Chip Graber is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Stevie is so excited about meeting Chip Graber. But when he and Susan Carol overhear a conversation that can change Chip's life and career, they know they need to do something. What will happen to Chip, Stevie, and Susan Carol?
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are sent to New Orleans to cover the Final Four after winning the U.S.B.W.A.'s writing contest. While there, they fall into a sinister plan layed out by money-crazy college professors and deans. It reminds the reader that corruption still plagues many sport organizations. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending contained a surprise twist. This was probably one of the most interesting and compelling sport books that I have every read!
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Last Shot is a college basketball mystery. For those of you who love sports, you'll love this, too. For those of you who don't, like me, you'll probably love this more than you would think. When Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson over hear someone threatening Minnesota's star player to throw the biggest game of the season, they are interested.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
To paraphrase Maria’s review above: “For those of you who don’t like sports books, like me, you’ll probably love this more than you would think.” That says it all! I’m not usually a fan of sports books- all the details that are usually added (like play-by-play action shots, and fluctuating scores) just confuse me and distract me from the meat of the story. If I read a sports-themed book, it has to have enough of a back story to float me through all of the “sports stuff” in order for me to like it. (Side note: the YA author Chris Crutcher does this extremely well, which is why he is one of my favorite authors- even though most of his books are centered around some type of sport.) Getting back to Last Shot- this book had me on the edge of my seat! The mystery and action of the storyline had me hooked so well that I didn’t even care that the author name-dropped something like a thousand key figures in the fields of basketball and journalism. I know more about basketball than I ever wanted to because of this book, including the pronunciation of the coach of Duke’s basketball team. Thanks to Robert’s brother Michael for setting me straight on that one… it’s not pronounced anyway near the way it looks on paper!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was pretty good. It was a sports story and it was kind of realistic fiction too. It was a basketball novel. It is told from a reporter point of view, and most sport novels aren't. I liked this book a lot for the unique way it was told. 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Stevie loves basketball. He loves writing about it. He is so happy when he wins the USBWA writing competition along with a southern girl named Susan Carol. Chip Graber is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Stevie is so excited about meeting Chip Graber. But when he and Susan Carol overhear a conversation that can change Chip's life and career, they know they need to do something. What will happen to Chip, Stevie, and Susan Carol?
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are sent to New Orleans to cover the Final Four after winning the U.S.B.W.A.'s writing contest. While there, they fall into a sinister plan layed out by money-crazy college professors and deans. It reminds the reader that corruption still plagues many sport organizations. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending contained a surprise twist. This was probably one of the most interesting and compelling sport books that I have every read!
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Last Shot is a college basketball mystery. For those of you who love sports, you'll love this, too. For those of you who don't, like me, you'll probably love this more than you would think. When Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson over hear someone threatening Minnesota's star player to throw the biggest game of the season, they are interested.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
To paraphrase Maria’s review above: “For those of you who don’t like sports books, like me, you’ll probably love this more than you would think.” That says it all! I’m not usually a fan of sports books- all the details that are usually added (like play-by-play action shots, and fluctuating scores) just confuse me and distract me from the meat of the story. If I read a sports-themed book, it has to have enough of a back story to float me through all of the “sports stuff” in order for me to like it. (Side note: the YA author Chris Crutcher does this extremely well, which is why he is one of my favorite authors- even though most of his books are centered around some type of sport.) Getting back to Last Shot- this book had me on the edge of my seat! The mystery and action of the storyline had me hooked so well that I didn’t even care that the author name-dropped something like a thousand key figures in the fields of basketball and journalism. I know more about basketball than I ever wanted to because of this book, including the pronunciation of the coach of Duke’s basketball team. Thanks to Robert’s brother Michael for setting me straight on that one… it’s not pronounced anyway near the way it looks on paper!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Battle of the Books 2009- Reviews of Hidden Talents
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
Okay, this book was awesome. I totally loved it. It is really creative and the people have really cool "talents". They are basically powers and they aren't like super strength or anything like that. They have talents like hearing other people’s thoughts but not knowing it. The main characters talent is by far the most creative. He can make people feel really good about themselves or really bad about themselves by just saying something. This book was fun, creative, and nice. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr.9
This book is an exciting story about Martin, a boy that has been expelled from several schools because he finds peculiar ways to insult the staff members. He is sent to a boarding school where he meets several students he believes to have special abilities that have gotten them expelled from their schools. When the boys discover that the school is going to be closed, the boys use their special abilities to save the school. This book is a must read and it has a sequel named True Talents.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Martin Anderson doesn't respect any of his teachers as he gets thrown from school to school, getting expelled from each and every school along the way. That is, until he comes to Edgeview Alternate School. This is his last chance. There's no other school to go to. Martin wants to go home as soon as he arrives, but after he meets Torchie, Cheater, Lucky, Flinch, and Trash, he's not sure that he wants to leave. Read this book to find out what happens at Edgeview Alternate School to these six friends.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Hidden Talents is about a boy, named Martin Anderson, who is sent to the Edgeview Alternative School because of his trouble to stay in schools. Upon his arrival, Martin thought of the school as "a dead end," "the end of the road." But soon Martin realizes that there is something up with the students at the school. He figures out that his friends have special hidden powers. Now it is up to Martin and his friends to foil a plot and keep Edgeview from closing. Hidden Talents is a great book with lots of action and adventure. I definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Martin Anderson has been expelled from too many schools to count. His last choice is to go to Edgeview. In other words, the school for kids who teachers feel should be in jail. Surprisingly, Martin finds himself lifelong friends who all have something in common that you could never guess.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book is a great story about a group of misfits that join together and discover their own skills and special powers. The Psi Five, as they call themselves, are more than what meets the eye. With help from a new student and the main character, Martin, these outcasts will learn how to master their powers.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is a very interesting book. This book is about a bunch of very gifted students. They may not follow all the rules, but they learn from their mistakes and then they start learning about themselves.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
Hidden Talents was one of my favorite books from last year’s Battle. I was so happy when I found out it was chosen to be the repeat title for the 2009 Battle. What made this book so special for me were the unique characters. I love the premise that a group of “misfits” can rise up and discover that they not only have the power to control their futures, but that they have qualities about themselves that the “regular” kids in “regular” society could only dream of possessing. It’s such an empowering story… the kind of book that you don’t mind reading more than once, which was great for me since that’s exactly what I had to do!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
Okay, this book was awesome. I totally loved it. It is really creative and the people have really cool "talents". They are basically powers and they aren't like super strength or anything like that. They have talents like hearing other people’s thoughts but not knowing it. The main characters talent is by far the most creative. He can make people feel really good about themselves or really bad about themselves by just saying something. This book was fun, creative, and nice. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr.9
This book is an exciting story about Martin, a boy that has been expelled from several schools because he finds peculiar ways to insult the staff members. He is sent to a boarding school where he meets several students he believes to have special abilities that have gotten them expelled from their schools. When the boys discover that the school is going to be closed, the boys use their special abilities to save the school. This book is a must read and it has a sequel named True Talents.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Martin Anderson doesn't respect any of his teachers as he gets thrown from school to school, getting expelled from each and every school along the way. That is, until he comes to Edgeview Alternate School. This is his last chance. There's no other school to go to. Martin wants to go home as soon as he arrives, but after he meets Torchie, Cheater, Lucky, Flinch, and Trash, he's not sure that he wants to leave. Read this book to find out what happens at Edgeview Alternate School to these six friends.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Hidden Talents is about a boy, named Martin Anderson, who is sent to the Edgeview Alternative School because of his trouble to stay in schools. Upon his arrival, Martin thought of the school as "a dead end," "the end of the road." But soon Martin realizes that there is something up with the students at the school. He figures out that his friends have special hidden powers. Now it is up to Martin and his friends to foil a plot and keep Edgeview from closing. Hidden Talents is a great book with lots of action and adventure. I definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Martin Anderson has been expelled from too many schools to count. His last choice is to go to Edgeview. In other words, the school for kids who teachers feel should be in jail. Surprisingly, Martin finds himself lifelong friends who all have something in common that you could never guess.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book is a great story about a group of misfits that join together and discover their own skills and special powers. The Psi Five, as they call themselves, are more than what meets the eye. With help from a new student and the main character, Martin, these outcasts will learn how to master their powers.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
This book is a very interesting book. This book is about a bunch of very gifted students. They may not follow all the rules, but they learn from their mistakes and then they start learning about themselves.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
Hidden Talents was one of my favorite books from last year’s Battle. I was so happy when I found out it was chosen to be the repeat title for the 2009 Battle. What made this book so special for me were the unique characters. I love the premise that a group of “misfits” can rise up and discover that they not only have the power to control their futures, but that they have qualities about themselves that the “regular” kids in “regular” society could only dream of possessing. It’s such an empowering story… the kind of book that you don’t mind reading more than once, which was great for me since that’s exactly what I had to do!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Battle of the Books 2009- Reviews of Beastly
All summer-long, seventeen teens (ranging from grades 6th- 9th) competed in the program entitled "Battle of the Books." They read as many of the eight, pre-selected titles and completed various trivia tests and activities based on the books. It required a lot of hard work and dedication on their part. Based on the scores they achieved, the six participants with the highest scores are going to represent Hauppauge Public Library in a county-wide competition on August 15th at Stony Brook University. Congratulations to our final six team: Robert, Varun, Reah, Maria, Jocelyn, and Daniel.
Below is the first of eight sets of reviews that the whole group contributed to. Enjoy reading them!
Beastly by Alex Finn
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Beastly adds a modern twist to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast is the narrator and we see the events in his point of view. Unlike the fairy tale or movie we see what the Beast is feeling and the reasons behind his behavior. This book is a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love, fantasy and suspense rolled into one book!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was horrible! I really hope it doesn't come in for battle of the books next year because it is really boring. It’s only a modernized version of beauty and the beast. Anyway, I hate romantic stories. There is absolutely no excitement and adventure. The whole book is told from a very pessimistic point of view. It was only pessimism and romance. I don't recommend this book at all.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
First, I just want to say that I am very sorry to all of my Twilight friends. This book is by far better than the Twilight series. This book is basically Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view with a little twist. This book takes place in present day New York City. It is the perfect romance story. This is the best book I have ever read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Beastly is a book about friendship, true love, and a runaway beast in the subway. I really, really, really, really liked this book. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down, ever. If you like a really good book, pick up Beastly on your next visit to the library.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Beastly is the story of a classic fairytale with a modern day twist. Based on the story "Beauty and the Beast," Beastly follows the story of a handsome but arrogant boy named Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle has always lived a charmed life of luxury with his stuck up father until a curse set upon him by a witch turns him into a horrible beast. Now Kyle is desperate to find a girl who could love him despite his awful looks. The only things that he has to console himself with are blogs to other mystical creatures, books, and his beloved roses. Beastly is a wonderful tale of romance, magic, and the struggle of one boy to realize life is about more than just looks. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Beastly is a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed it. I think that anyone who likes fantasy books would love it, too. I think what makes it more unique from regular Beauty and the Beast is that is from the Beast's point of view.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book puts a modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. It makes the almost impossible fairy tale come to life in present day way. Kyle Kingsbury is a popular rich boy in the 9th grade. When it is time for him to learn to grow up, respect, and be nice to others, Kendra the witch casts a spell on him. She turns him into a beast. Kyle has only two years to find a girl who will love him for who he is, despite his beastly looks.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I enjoyed this book tremendously! My favorite thing about this story was the Beast’s internal transformation. I absolutely hated this character in the beginning of the story (exactly the author’s intention) and was so happy to see that his change of heart wasn’t an overnight experience. The author took his time with the character, causing me to hate the Beast a little less with each chapter, and making me believe his transformation was indeed real. I thought all of the characters were well drawn and the story was solid. The only parts I didn’t like were the chat-room sessions. I’m not really big on instant messages in real life, or reading them in a book, but I understand the importance of using this mode of communication for the storyline and appreciate how it added a more modern touch to the book.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Beastly adds a modern twist to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast is the narrator and we see the events in his point of view. Unlike the fairy tale or movie we see what the Beast is feeling and the reasons behind his behavior. This book is a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love, fantasy and suspense rolled into one book!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was horrible! I really hope it doesn't come in for battle of the books next year because it is really boring. It’s only a modernized version of beauty and the beast. Anyway, I hate romantic stories. There is absolutely no excitement and adventure. The whole book is told from a very pessimistic point of view. It was only pessimism and romance. I don't recommend this book at all.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
First, I just want to say that I am very sorry to all of my Twilight friends. This book is by far better than the Twilight series. This book is basically Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view with a little twist. This book takes place in present day New York City. It is the perfect romance story. This is the best book I have ever read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Beastly is a book about friendship, true love, and a runaway beast in the subway. I really, really, really, really liked this book. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down, ever. If you like a really good book, pick up Beastly on your next visit to the library.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Beastly is the story of a classic fairytale with a modern day twist. Based on the story "Beauty and the Beast," Beastly follows the story of a handsome but arrogant boy named Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle has always lived a charmed life of luxury with his stuck up father until a curse set upon him by a witch turns him into a horrible beast. Now Kyle is desperate to find a girl who could love him despite his awful looks. The only things that he has to console himself with are blogs to other mystical creatures, books, and his beloved roses. Beastly is a wonderful tale of romance, magic, and the struggle of one boy to realize life is about more than just looks. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Beastly is a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed it. I think that anyone who likes fantasy books would love it, too. I think what makes it more unique from regular Beauty and the Beast is that is from the Beast's point of view.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book puts a modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. It makes the almost impossible fairy tale come to life in present day way. Kyle Kingsbury is a popular rich boy in the 9th grade. When it is time for him to learn to grow up, respect, and be nice to others, Kendra the witch casts a spell on him. She turns him into a beast. Kyle has only two years to find a girl who will love him for who he is, despite his beastly looks.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I enjoyed this book tremendously! My favorite thing about this story was the Beast’s internal transformation. I absolutely hated this character in the beginning of the story (exactly the author’s intention) and was so happy to see that his change of heart wasn’t an overnight experience. The author took his time with the character, causing me to hate the Beast a little less with each chapter, and making me believe his transformation was indeed real. I thought all of the characters were well drawn and the story was solid. The only parts I didn’t like were the chat-room sessions. I’m not really big on instant messages in real life, or reading them in a book, but I understand the importance of using this mode of communication for the storyline and appreciate how it added a more modern touch to the book.
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