Code Talker

AUTHOR- Joseph Bruchac

RATING- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.

WHAT I THOUGHT

This book was about a boy who really wanted to join the U.S Marines but he wasn't old enough so he had to wait another year. The next year he had to do lots of physical training to become a Marine. Once he is a marine he becomes a code talker and learns a secret code so the Japanese won't figure out what they are saying. The war lasts for a long time before the Japanese surrender. If you liked this book you might also like Allies by Alan Gratz.

TOP 10 BOOKS OF THE YEAR!!!

1st- WORDS ON FIRE

AUTHOR- JENNIFER A. NIELSEN            GENRE- HISTORICAL FICTION

2nd- MY DIARY FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

AUTHOR- JODI LYNN ANDERSON              GENRE- FANTASY

3rd- TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH

AUTHOR- HOLLY GOLDBERG                   GENRE- REALISTIC FICTION

4th- MAKING BOMBS FOR HITLER

AUTHOR- MARSHA FORCHUCK SKRYPUCH        GENRE- HISTORICAL FICTION

5th- SWEEP

AUTHOR- JONATHAN AUXIER          GENRE-  HISTORICAL FICTION AND FANTASY 

6th- THE FALSE PRINCE

AUTHOR- JENNIFER A. NIELSEN       GENRE- HISTORICAL FICTION

7th- GREETINGS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION

AUTHOR- JAKE BURT          GENRE- REALISTIC FICTION

8th- ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET

AUTHOR- JUDY BLUME      GENRE- REALISTIC FICTION

9th- BLUBBER

AUTHOR- JUDY BLUME                 GENRE- REALISTIC FICTION

10th- A TALE MAGNOLIOUS

AUTHOR- SUZANNE NELSON       GENRE- FANTASY

Allies

AUTHOR- Alan Gratz

RATING-⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

June 16, 1944: The Nazis  are terrorizing Europe, on their evil quest to conquer the world. The only way to stop them? The biggest, most top-secret endeavor ever, with the allied nations coming together to storm German- occupied France.

Welcome to D-Day
Dee, a young US soldier, is on a boat racing toward the French coast. And Dee- along with his brothers-in-arms- is terrified. He feels the weight of World War II on his shoulders.
But Dee is not alone. Behind enemy lines in France, is a girl named  Samira works as a spy, trying to sabotage the German army. Meanwhile, paratrooper James leaps from his plane to join a midnight raid. And in the thick of battle, Henry, a medic, searches for lives to save.

WHAT I THOUGHT

I liked this book because most of the characters were on deadly missions filled with action. It was very sad and lots of people died or were seriously injured.  The ending wasn't that good though because it made you feel like it was only the middle and it would have been better if  the author added and made the book longer. Over all though it was a pretty good book and I read in one day. If you liked this book you might also like Grenade by Alan Gratz.

The Sign of the Beaver

AUTHOR- Elizabeth George Speare

RATING-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Although he faces his responsibility bravely, thirteen-year-old Matt is more than a little apprehensive when his father leaves him alone to guard their newly built  cabin in the wilderness. When a renegade white stranger steals his gun, Matt realizes he has no way to shoot game and no way to protect himself. It is only after meeting the resourceful Indian boy Attean that Matt begins to discover new ways to survive in the forest.

And in getting to know his friend, Matt also comes to learn the heritage and way of life of the beaver clan, and their growing problem in adapting to the white man and the changing frontier.

WHAT I THOUGHT

I really liked this book because I really like survival books but it was also was a little about friendship because two very unlikely friends meet. In the end Matt is stuck with a really tough decision. If you liked this book you would probably like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. They are very similar books because the main character has to survive alone in the woods.

The Losers Club

AUTHOR- Andrew Clements

Rating-⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Alex can't put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law-pay attention in class, or else- Alex takes action. He can't lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn't a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right?

But as more and more kids find their way to Alec's club, he realizes something. Words like loser and bookworm are just labels. And labels don't tell the whole story. Maybe it's time the Losers Club members take their story back.

WHAT I THOUGHT

I really liked this book because it was about other kids who loved books like me. I thought the part about him wanting him and Nina to be more than friends was not necessary. It teaches a really good lesson that labels don't matter; like nerds and jocks and in this case, bookworms and losers. If you liked this book you might like Ban This Book by Alan Gratz.

Our Castle by the Sea

AUTHOR- Lucy Strange

RATING- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Growing up in a lighthouse, eleven-year-old Pet's world has been one of storms, secret tunnels, and stories about sea monsters. But now the country is at war and the clifftops are a terrifying battleground. Pet will need to muster all her bravery to uncover why her family is being torn apart. 

WHAT I THOUGHT

This is a hard book to rate because the beginning was really hard to get into. It would be boring, boring, something good just happened. Boring, boring, and so on. The ending had a good twist and I could not put the book down. The ending was soooo good. If you liked this book you might also like The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

A Wrinkle in Time

Author- Madeleine L'Engle

Rating-⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure- one that will threaten their lives and our universe.

WHAT I THOUGHT \

At first it was pretty weird and boring and it took a little while to get into it. Once I was a little more then half way through it, it started getting good. It was also kind of scary. But it had a happy ending so that was good. It was better than the movie and it followed the book book pretty closely. If you liked this book you might also like The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.