Agnes Parker, Happy Camper
by Kathleen O'Dell
I enjoyed this book because I could relate to it's concept. Its orgainization was well set up. The plot development was great. Each character had an awesome personality. The setting was imaginable. The style was great.
Ainsley

I liked this book a lot. My favorite part is when Agnes and her cabin put chocolate in the other cabin's underwear. This is my favorite part because it's VERY funny!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this book!!!!! It's filled with exciting,funny,and surprising events! I recommend this book for children all ages. I think anyone who reads this book will love it! I'm probably going to read other books by Kathleen O'Dell.
Julia

Annotation:
"Soil studies, camp pranks, and a weird bunkmate all play a role in this funny, insightful story of the everyday casualties and payoffs of growing up."



Angus and Sadie
by Cynthia Voight
I really enjoyed this book. The book is about two border collies, a brother and sister that are very different Sadie is afraid of everything and
Angus is brave and always does everything right. I think it might be a
Newbery and more people should read it. I would recommend this book to boys or girls 7-11, especially if you like animals or you have a brother or sister you are different from. It would also be a good read out loud for younger kids.

Plot-The story moves at a steady pace. Through Angus and Sadie’s experiences on the new farm, they grow up and Angus helps Sadie conquer her fears and he learns he doesn’t know everything Sadie does.

Characterization- Angus and Sadie were very well developed. I could envision them and understand their feelings since they talked. The people were well described too.

Point of view- Third person.

Setting- The story took place on a farm in Maine. The author did an
excellent job of describing the farm. I culled imagine everything clearly and I felt as
if I was right there with the dogs.

Style- Realistic animal fiction, because the animals’ thoughts and
Conversations are narrated The type of voice the author uses for the dogs is
Particularly good, because she doesn’t use full sentences or grow up vocabulary. The
Reader can believe the thoughts belong to dogs.

Theme- It doesn’t matter who you are. All creatures are special. This book
is also about sibling relationships and love.
Scott

This book was very good. It was told on a farm and there are two dogs, Angus and Sadie. They both learn how to play with each other and I think is is a good book for anyone who loves animals and adventure. I'd rank this book a 9 out of 10. Deirdre

The Balloon Boy of San Francisco (ARC-advance reading copy)
by Dorothy Kupcha Leland

This book was good, but I never finished….I’m not sure if it’s the style or my opinion. I didn’t care to continue. I rate this book a 7 out of 10.
Bridget

I think this book may deserve a Newbery medal and other people in the club should read it. The main character is 14 but I think 4th- 8th graders would enjoy this book. The author does a excellent job combining history with a great   story. I couldn’t put the book down!

Plot
This book takes place in the late 1850’s in the middle of the California gold rush. The main character, Ready, a 14 year old boy, is working as a newsboy to get his family money. The plot has many problems that the main character faces.  

Characterization
All the main characters are described very well. You can envison them clearlyin your head. The two best described main characters are Ready, and Lynda. All the secondary characters are described well also.

Setting
The setting is San Francisco. The author describes the town very well. You can picture the streets, the balloon ride, Ready selling newspapers, and the dock.

The Point of View
The point of view is third-person. She has good naroration. Theme The theme is no matter
what happens don’t ever give up.
David



The Black Canary
by Jane Louise Curry

This book is about a bi-racial boy named James who is almost 13. He
Visits London and finds a portal that transports him to the year 1600. I would
recommend this book to children ages 11-14 boy or girl. I don’t think this book
is a Newbery, but it might be a Newbery Honor book and other people should
read it.

Plot
The pace is erratic. The plot is suspenseful at times. Sometimes you want to read and sometimes you don’t want to. There were periods of time when I didn’t read it for a week. This is my main criticism of the book.

Characterization
The characterization is great. You can envision James, Jack and all the other characters. I could feel what James feeling.

Setting
The setting is described extremely well. She did a great job describing Elizabethan London. I could envision everything and it seemed extremely real! She did a good job transitioning from the present to the past.

Point of View
The point of view is first person.

Style
The style is historic fiction. It is also fantasy because of the time travel.

Theme
By traveling through time it helped James to have a better relation with his parents.
David

The Book without Words
by Avi

11 year old ,orphan Sybil, is taken off the streets by a scary old man in which she is to serve. Every thing is fine until he mysteriously dies one night. He tells her to find someone with green eyes. But what she doesn't know is he was trying to take her life in order to restore his.
This book had a great plot, but gets kind of weird. I would recomend this book though, to people who like Magic books.
Brittany


This book is about an 11 year old ,orphan girl named sybil. She is taken off the srteets by a mysterious old man who is now to be her master. But when he suddenly dies 2 months later, Sybil and the master talking raven have to discover why he died. And what his last request meant "Find someone with green eyes.

I liked this book. It took place a long time ago, in medieval times. All the main charactors were orphans, so it was really odd.
Brittany

Come Llamas
by Jennifer Morris

I think this book deserves a Newbery Award. It was about baseball and llamas.
It ws a great book. I would recommend this book.
Elizabeth

I loved this book. It is about a boy who wants to be a pitcher and he lives on a llama farm. His grandpa had a heart attack. The boy becomes a relief pitcher on a team. He gets a llama and names it Elmo. He does things wrong like pearcing the ear in front of his mom. He getps sprayed with the stuff he dabs on Elmos ear.

The boy has a brother. The boy is good at making pancakes. The boy shares a room with his grandpa. The Llamas get attacked by a bear. Great book, recommended, definately outstanding.
Elizabeth

I really liked this book. Even though it is the author's first, I think it might be a Newberry. It is about a 9 year old boy named Joey who lives on a Llama ranch in Alaska. I would recommend this book to boys or girls 7-11, especiall if you like animals.

Plot
The story moves at a steady pace. There is a big crisis in the book and how it is fixed makes the story very special. You'll have to read it to find out though.

Characterization
I felt I knew the characters really well. I admired Joey because he was only 9 and could raise Llamas. I liked the grownups too because they weren't bossy and seemed real nice. The animals all had well described personalities and I felt like I knew them too.

Point of View
Joey tells the story which is very important because you can identify with his feelings and understand how he grows up and becomes a better Llama farmer but the end.

Setting
Very well done. I felt like I was in Alaska on the ranch. I could feel the harsheness of the Winter and see the house and barn and field.

Style
Realistic fiction-Very real! I could feel Joey's emotions when he was sad, scared and happy. When Joey became a pitcher, I wanted to be a relief pitcher too. It also really seemed like a 9 year old was telling the story.

Theme
This book is about growing up and also how to come to terms with something very sad that happens in your life.
Scott

The Dark Hills Divide
by Patrick Carmen

This book was very, very well written. The plot was well developed and complex. I was in suspense the entire time. I loved the author’s style of writing. He wrote so well I felt like I was transported to Bridewell. (The town in the book). His writing was organized, accurate and clear. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Anna

The book that I read was The Dark Hills Divide. I liked the book until I realized I didn’t understand any of it. I read a chapter and a half and I had enough of it! It was too hard! I had to put the book down which I never do unless a book is hard. Just on one page I had to look up at least 5 or more words in the dictionary! I was getting annoyed. I kept on asking my parents what everything meant. If this book were to get a Newberry award I would put it in the 10 to 14 section since I’m 9 and didn’t get it!
Rachel

I thought this book was good, but hard to follow. The first chapters (1-4) were written very well. But, as the story progressed,it became more scattered, especially at the end. The characters are likeable(the three I liked best were Yipes, a man who lives in the woods, Murphy, a squirrel,and Darius, a giant wolf) but the story line is too complex. I did not feel likeI was in the setting of the book.  
Brian

Altough I like fantasy books, I didn't like this one. I read the
first 3 chapters and didn't want to continue. I didn't know when it took place,and I felt like I didn't know the characters. It started abruptly when the characters were in the middle of something.
David

I loved this book because I had suspense, but not mystery, which I like. The beginning was a little confusing, but I grew to like it very much by the end. My favorite part was when Murphy the squirrel was tossed down the steps, then the library cats chased him. I could visualize him fling through the air and yelping “help”
Marykate

I read The Dark Hills Divide and I don't think it should get the Newbery Award because even though it was a good book, I have read better. I also thought that the book could have been longer and more descriptive on the setting.
Ryan



The Diary of a Fairy Godmother
By Esme Raji Codell

The Diary of a Fairy Godmother is a great book. It has a great story line. The main character, Hanky Dory, is very interesting. The story is about a witch that turns into a fairy godmother.
Marley


This was a really good book. It was about a really evil witch named Hunky Dory who turned out to be a fairy godmother in the end because of her kindness. The bad characters in the story were mainly named odd names, like Acid Reflux and Sinus Infection. The other characters were fairytale characters like Cinderella, who became Hunky Dory's Fairy godchild.(?) Or like Rumplestiltskin who Hunky was in love with. This book was good for girls and is a little strange. I thought the way the author intertwined her story with fairytales was a good way to write a book.
Brittany



Friendship According to Humphrey
by Betty Birney

I think this book should be given the Newbery award because it is a funny, non-boring book. It is about Humphrey, a golden hamster who is the class pet in Mrs. Bishare’s class and all is going well till a new class pet comes in her class. He is a frog. Humphrey is not very happy with the new thing. If you like adventure, animals and funny stuff you should read this book. It is a story about friendship, animals and learning how to get along with anything that comes your way, even a frog.
Patricia

I read the book Friendship According to Humphrey and it had very interesting facts about making new friends. The setting was a classroom and in children's houses. I also thought the characters became real and I enjoyed the book.
Denise

This book was about a hamster named Humphrey who told the story and his life as a class pet. When a new class pet comes, Humphrey tries to be polite, but Og the Frog is not very good company. Every weekend Humphrey is taken home by a student. The small golden hamster faces slobbery dogs and other things, such as a family
that watches way too much TV, a family that cannot speak English, and the teacher, Miss B. and her grumpy husband Bert. But Humphrey pulls the plug and gets a family interested in other things, helps a shy girl, and sends grumpy Bert on a goose chase inwhich Bert has to catch Humphrey. In the end Bert is laughing and even
the teacher who called him a "rat" are laughing.

This book is funny and I quite enjoyed reading it. It is a perfect book for any age. Friendship According th Humphrey was excellent!
Janna

I read The World According to Humphrey and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would like this book and did! The books are about a hamster named Humphrey who is a classroom pet and this book is about making new friends. I think it might be a Newbery and more people should read it. I would recommend this book to boys or girls 7-11, especially if you like animals. It would also be a good read out loud for younger kids especially if a teacher read it to his or her class.

Plot-The story moves at a steady pace. Humphrey helps the children solve a variety of problems all having to do with friendship.

Characterization- Humphrey was a very good character because I could see him in my mind, how he looked and I could envision the frogs next to him, the teacher and the kids.

Point of view- First person. Humphrey tells the story which helps to make it unique and fun to read.

Setting- The setting was in the classroom and the student’s homes. The author did a great job. I felt like I was in the cage with Humphrey.

Style- Realistic fantasy fiction because it is told from the hamster’s point of view! Very creative and funny!

Theme- How to be a good friend and how to make friends even with someone you don’t like.
Scott

The Game of Silence
By Louise Erdrich
The book, The Game of Silence, is the second in a series in which the life of an Ojibwe girl during the mid 1800’s is explored. As a sequel, it stands on its own and does a good job of depicting the struggles, hardships and joys of a
ten-year- old girl at this time.

It provides the reader with a solid historical Native American perspective, as their tribe is forced to abandon their home and move ever westward due to Pioneer expansion. Although the topic was wonderful and heartfelt, I found the story lacked intensity. The characters did not have depth, which made for a sluggish story at times. In addition, the use of Ojibwe words throughout the text required the reader to flip to the back glossary. A good book-not exceptional. Not on a par with previous Newbery Award winners I have read.
Debra (parent)

Genius : a Photobiography of Albert Einstein
by Marfe Ferguson Delano

I recommend this book for kids seven and older because some of the words are hard to say. I think this book deserves a Newbery Award because of all the facts it gives you and all the historical photos of Einstein.
Myles


I liked this book because it tells you about what Albert Einstein did before And after he was famous. He won the Noble Prize in physics in 1922 because of his studies on beams of light. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into biographies, math, and science.
Reid



Ghostfire (Outcast, Book 3) (ARC-advance reading copy)
by Christopher Golden, Thomas E. Sniegoski

Ghostfire is the third book in the Outcast series. I haven’t read the other two books, but I was able to follow the story line well. The authors describe characters very well. You feel as if you know them. The main character, Timothy Cade, lives in a magical world, but he does not have magic. He does have a great mind and he does have the magic of invention.

Timothy invents a machine that helps the mages (relatives of the wizards of old) in their fight against the Wurms (relatives of the dragons of old). Outcasts Ghostfire is the kind of book that you don’t want to put down, and I’m excited to read the next book in the series. From this book, I learned that being different is often beneficial in some way.
Brian



Giant Rat of Sumatra or Pirates Galore
by Sid Fleischman
This book is about a boy who is rescued by pirates and endures many adventures on their ship, The Giant Rat of Sumatra. This book is very exciting and I recommend it for the Newbery award.
Myles

The Giant Rat of Sumatra was the third in a trilogy, but I didn't know until the very last sentence! The characters are so well described, that it is a story of its own. This book is about a young cabin boy on a pirate ship who is an American among a Mexican crew. I think this book deserves at least some recognition by the Newbery committee. It was a departure from the herd of other pirate books because of the complexity of the characters (especially the captain) and the originality of the plot.
Brian

Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen
by Sally M. Keehn

Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen was an excellent book. It was a
book of adventure and fantasy. It showed you what true love really was and showed you
true friendship too. But an evil swamp queen named Zelda tries to ruin it all.
Anna




Good Dog
by Maya Gottfried

I think this book was very well written. The poems were written as if the author was the dog. So each poem was interesting and described the different traits of the dogs. I learned many thing about the differences in the dogs and would recommend this book. Some of them were funny too! Others were serious. It really makes you think that a dog is talking to you.
Marley

I thought that the poems in Good Dog were very nice. They described how the world looked from a dogs point of view. I think that readers of all ages could read this book and like it. It is very descriptive and it gives you an inside look of the different personalities that the dog types have. My favorite dog was the Springer Spaniel.
Tyler

I read a poetry book called Good Dog. It ws a great book with lots of great poems in many different forms. I think this book might have a chance of winning the Newbery Award because you can really understand what the poet is trying to say.
Anna



Gooney Bird and the Room Mother
by Lois Lowry

The book is about a class that needs somebody to make cupcakes but a girl named Gooney Bird Green finds a room mother and gets a part in a pageant.
Peter



This book is about a girl named Gooney Bird Green and her crazy adventures. First she’s on a mission to get new dictionaries for her second grade class. Then she gets the class a room mother. But the room mother will stay incognito until after the Thanksgiving pageant. I won’t tell who the room mother is. You will have to read the book to find that out.
Lilah

Gooney Bird and The Room Mother was a very good story. It was about a girl named Gooney Bird who had to accomplish getting a room mother so that she could get the part that she wanted in a play. She was an excellent story teller. The class wanted to hear her story. The characters were very interesting. I read this book pretty fast becuase I wanted to see how it would end up. I liked the story line and think other children would enjoy it too. I would recommend this to boys and girls in 1-4th grade.
Marley

The Great Brain Book
by H.P. Newquist
The Great Brain Book is a wonderful nonfiction book about the brain and how it works. It is descriptive, entertaining, and sometimes surprising. This book makes you think about what's going on inside your noggin. It is more of a picture book, as the literature depends greatly on the illustrations. I highly recommend it.
Brian

Ice Drift
by Theodore Taylor
Ice Drift was one of my favorite books. Two brothers become trapped on an ice float and have to find a way to survive in the harsh Arctic conditions and find their way home. The author decribes the landscape of the arctic beautifully. I feel like I'm right there, experiencing the brothers' plight. I think the lesson of this book is to never give up, even when in doubt. Ice Drift is one of my favorite books of the year.
Brian Shields

Judy Moody Declares Independence
by Megan McDonald

The concept of the book Judy Moody Declares Independence was amazing. The accuracy, plot, characters, setting and style were great.
Ainsley


Judy Moody Declares Independence sticks on one topic. I think it also has some
true facts in it. It’s a great story.
Marley

annotation: "When Judy meets an English girl named Tori at the Tea Party ship, she is surprised to learn how many liberties her British friend enjoys."

Judy Moody Declares Independence is a very good book. It is funny and cool like all the other Judy Moody books. But I do not think it should win the Newbery because it is boring. It was boring because nothing really happened. It was a little odd and confusing.
Patricia

Looking for Jaguar and Other Rain Forest Poems
By Susan Katz
Looking for Jaguar is a very descriptive poetry book about the rain forest. I
think it was a good book. It even has information about the poems on the last
page.
Anna




Lowji Discovers America
by Candace Fleming
I think the book Lowji Discovers America should get the Newbery Award because it is a good book. It is about a kid who moves to America. He has to make new friends. He learns alot of new things in America.
Ryan




The Magician’s Boy
by Susan Cooper  
There was a boy who worked for a magician. The boy wanted to learn magic, but the magician said no, you’re not ready. The beginning of the story was kinda confusing, but the rest of it was very organized. The plot was clear. The characters were easy to understand. The Land of Story was the setting. The style was like a puzzle. This book is for the seven to ten age group. I recommend this book. People who like adventure books would like this book.
Samantha

The Magicians boy was very adventureous and cool book. It had alot ofcharacters from nursery rythmes. I think many people would like this from 2nd grade to 4th graders. The ending has a big surprise. 
Mary

Magyk
by Angie Sage
The most memorable part of Magyk is that the Heap family knows magic. They Have seven sons and one day the seventh son is kidnapped and they find a girl and After a couple of years they find out she is a princess. They bring her back to the castle where the king lives. The princess does not want to stay at the castle and she misses the Heap family and wants to go back and live with them. At the very end of the book their Aunt Zelda finds the seventh son in a duck pond. I think there will be a continuation of this story in the future.
Reid

Magyk was a very interesting book. It is about a family of poor people with seven sons and suddenly after birth the youngest son dies. The father goes away and comes back with a new baby girl. They then find out that she is a queen. An evil group of thugs is out to kill her and her family. They must along with the extra ordinary wizard flee and defeat the evil thugs. It is suspensful and very exciting. I think it appeals for grades 3 and up. I really recommend this book. It is at least an honor award winning book. 
Tyler 

I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I thought it was the best book I have ever read. I deeply recommend this book. If you love fanasty, magic, and adventure. My favorite part was when Boy 412 fell through the secret tunnel and found a magyk dragon ring and a big dragon boat and the truth about himself.......
This book have everthing on the check list.

Patricia

Marsquake!
by Brad Strickland and Thomas E. Fuller

This book doesn't deserve a Newbery Award. It was a good book for
people who like sci-fi and a fast read. Characters are all teenagers but kids ingrades 4-6th might like it.
David

Maritcha: a Nineteenth-Century American Girl
by Tonya Bolden. Harry N.

This book is about a girl and her life. I really understood this book. The plot
was great. The characters were excellent. The setting moved to different places. A good style
Samantha

Moon Runner
by Carloyn Marsden.

This book is about a girl named Mina who has to run against her best friend Ruth. Ruth is one of the best runners in Mina school. Mina is to scared that she will beat her best friend. Mina thinks that if she beats Ruth, Ruth will not be her friend anymore. So they have the race and I won't tell you what happens so read the book. I would recommend this book to win the Newbery award and for you to read as well.
Victoria



Mooses's Big Idea
By Stephanie Greene
This is a good book for advanced early readers and would be enjoyed by kids reading the Magic Treehouse series. I don’t think it is a possible Newbery however. It is about a moose that reads and likes to paint too. He has a special idea for during hunting season. It is a funny story and well written compared to many of the books available for this level of reader.
Scott

I read Moose's Big Idea and I think it should not get teh Newbery Award because it was very short. I did like the characters though.
Ryan

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money
by Christopher Paul Curtis
It was a very strange book. I didn't like it. I didn't finish it. I don't think it should get the Newbery Award.
Ryan







My Big Sister is so Bossy She Says You Can't Read This Book
By Mary Hershey

This book should win the Newbery because it is funny, super and it teaches you that friends and sisters do not have to mix. You do not have to be bossed around.

The main character is Effi and her life in Texas. She is in fifth grade. This book was great.
Patricia

The Old Country
By Mordicai Gerstein

I loved this book. My favorite part was in the courtroom when animals were the judge and jury. It was a great story.
MaryKate

I chose to read this book because I was attacted to the cover,the positive reviews and its appearance on Mrs.Gebel's list of favorites.

This fable/fairy tale/adventure story is about a young girl named Gisella who lives in "the old country". She encounters a fox and looks too long into her eyes, which allows the fox to change bodies with her. The country in which they live is in the midst of a war and her older brother is a soldier.

At first I enjoyed the story, but as it continued, I felt the impact of the war and its horrors took control of Gisella's story,giving the tale a dark, disturbing and surprisingly grown up perspective. I actually just skimmed the last few chapters, so I could move on to another book.

I would not recommmend this book to younger readers, although they might find the cover and jacket description appealing.
Ellen

Out Standing in my Field
By Patrick Jennings

I didnt like this book becasue it was a baseball story and the charecters were doing were standing in a field fighting.So i do not think this book deserves to get a Newberry award.
Katie


The most memorable part of the book is when the Professor puts Ty's sister Dasiy into the lineup for the baseball game. This part of the book was exciting for me because I knew Dasiy was a good player and you never see a girl playing on a Boy's team. I liked the character Dasiy because she was very compassionate to her brother when he messed up in the game.

The book is about a baseball game and centered around TY Cobb. Although I like baseball and I liked the book I found it to be a little boring at times. I do not think this should win the Newbery Award, you should read it if you like Baseball.
Victoria



The Penderwicks
By Jeanne Birdsall

This contempory yet charmingly, traditional tale is about a family’s summer vacation in the Berkshires. I would highly recommend it to both girls and boys 8 to 12 and as it is a family story with the youngest character being a most adorable 4 year old, this is a great family read a loud. Read the Penderwicks now and extend your summer!

Plot- This story moves at an easy pace appropriate for both the style and subject. It is a relaxing, easy read. The children experience many fun adventures and encounter some problems which need solving during their three week vacation. All are experienced and resolved in a fun and definitely childlike way. Although the story is very humorous, the problems the children encounter are real and issues kids can relate to.

Characterization- The characters are types frequently found in children’s books, such as the beautiful but overly responsible oldest sister and the brainy tomboy … but they are depicted in a fresh, appealing way. I didn’t even think of them as types until I finished the story. The adult characters are also very well done, even cameos such as the British garden contest judge who only appears on 1or 2 pages. I really liked them all and hope the author writes another Penderwicks tale soon.

Point of view- Third person with lots of dialogue.

Setting- Most vivid, I could envision the estate, its gardens and Arundel Cottage and wished I could go there on holiday, only without the nasty estate owner Mrs. Tifton.

Style- Realistic fiction, but not too much so. This witty tale allows the reader to take a vacation along with the characters, not a bad thing in today’s world. The Penderwicks has a timelessness which gives the book its strength and makes it worthy of considering for a Newbery. It reminds me of The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright.

Theme- The themes in this book are common to children’s literature. Among them are those of friendship, loyalty, fairness and family love all wrapped together with lots of humor and a happy ending. The author makes ordinary experiences special!
Ellen

I think this book might be a Newbery. It is about a family of four girls named, Skye, Jane, Rosalind, and Batty. Their mother died after Batty was born. They go on a trip to a rented cottage that is on an estate in the Berkshires. While they are there they meet a boy named Jeffery. They have very interesting adventures. It is for anyone from 8-12 or 13 and even younger if it was read by a parent. Despite the fact that it is about mostly girls, boys would like it.

Plot
The plot isn’t that suspenseful but, you still want to keep reading. It moves at a pace that is appropriate for the story.

Characterizaton
The characters are all described very well. I could envision them all. I felt like I could understand their feelings.

Point of View
The point of view is third person.

Setting
The setting is described very well. The description is so vivid that you feel like you’re on vacation with the Penderwicks.


Style
The style is realistic fiction. It reminds me of The Moffats and The Saturdays, two other Newbery award winning series.
David

I really liked this book and think it might be a Newberry. It was about 4 sisters that meet a boy while they are on vacation in the Berkshires. He turns out to be very nice. They have lots of fun together. I would recommend this to boys or girls 8-13 and as young as 5 if read out loud.

Plot
Really good, the best thing about the story. The book is straightforward and not confusing. It moves at a good pace. All the children's adventures and problems are all very interesting and the problems are solved well.

Characterization
I wanted to be friends with all the kids and most of the grownups, except the mean ones you weren't supposed to like, but they were very well described also. The author made you not like them.

Setting
Very well done. I could see the gardens, house and cottage. I felt like I was there watching, sort of.

Style
The vocabulary is very good. The story is funny but serious too with a good conclusion.

Theme
This book is about being a good listener even if you are grownup. It is also about friendship.
Scott



Pond Scum
by Alan Silberberg

This book is about a troubled boy that pulls the wings off flies just to hear the little snap. He then moves to an old, rickety house and discovers a strange jewel that can turn him into any animal he touches. When he does turn into an animal, he makes some friends: a salamander, crow and dragonfly and learns that there is more to life than GameBoy and pullling wings off flies. I do not think this is a Newberry but it is the kind of book you don't want to put down.
Brian

It grossed me out in every way!
Ainsley

This is a great book. I think it is definitely a Newbery candidate. It is about a 10 year old boy, named Oliver, who always watches TV. He has no friends and his parents are divorced. He finds a magical gem that can turn him into any animal he wants. This gem helps Oliver to change his life. I would recommend this book to anyone 8-14 years old and as young as 6 if it is read out loud.

Plot
This book has a great plot. It is suspenseful, especially in the end. You always want to keep reading to find out about what Oliver does next.

Characterization
The characterization in this book is great!! Even the animals have personalities!! Oliver’s sister Rachel isn’t described as well in the beginning of the book but as the book goes on you get to know her better.

Setting
The settings are described vividly. You can envision the broken down house easily and the pond and surroundings are described extremely well too.

Point of View
The point of view is third person.

Style
This book is fantasy. It is very humorous in some parts. The chapters Alternate between Oliver’s world and the animal’s world.

Theme
The moral of this book is unique. It is one of the best things in the book. The moral is you can do anything with friends.
David

Poppy's Return
by Avi Poppy's
Return is a book in a series of Poppy stories. It is an interesting book because the language is so descriptive, but it depends on the first books immensely. The book does not explain the ccharacters or their personalities. Even though these are talking mice, I feel their behavior should reflect their natural behavior in the wild, and it does not. The theme of this book is not to dwell on the past. It was a good book but the storyline was incomplete, you have to read the earlier books to understand the story.
Brian

Poppy’s Return is part of a series of books about deer mice that act like people. I have read some other books in the series and really enjoyed them, so I thought I would like this book and I did! This book is about Poppy and her son Ragweed Jr.’s journey back to the house Poppy lived in when she was a child. I think it might be a Newbery and more people should read it. I would
recommend this book to boys or girls 7-11, especially if you like animals. It would also be a good read out loud for younger kids.

Plot-The story is very suspenseful and you want to keep reading. Poppy and Ragweed Jr. must try and save the family home from destruction. The problems they encounter and their solutions are amusing and clever.

Characterization- I think Poppy is a really, really fun character and Ragweed Jr is too. They are so human like that I could imagine how they felt and they are so well described I could envision them easily.

Point of view- Third person.

Setting- The setting was set in the woods called Dimwood Forest. The author did a great job. I felt like I was deer mouse in the forest too.

Style- Animal fantasy fiction. Very creative and funny!

Theme- The message is sometimes new is better.
Scott

Poppy's Return is a book in a series of Poppy stories. It is an interesting book because the language is so descriptive, but it depends on the first books immensely. This book does not explain the characters or their personalities. Even though these are talking mice, I feel that their behavior should reflect their natural behavior in the wild, and it does not. The theme of this book is not to dwell on the past. It was a good book, but the storyline was incomplete, you have to read the earlier books > to understand the story.
Brian

Project Mulberry
by Linda Sue Park

I really didn't like the book so I didn't finish it I got up to pg.50 the book was very boring the kids seemed like they were like me but their project was boring and I couldn't get
into it.
Peter

I thought that Project Mulberry was an amazing and very enjoyable book. It is about a young Korean-American girl named Julia Song, who is uncomfortable with her Korean background and wants to be more “American”. This becomes an issue for her when her best friend Patrick comes up with an idea for their science fair project that ties in to her heritage – raising silk worms. I enjoyed reading about how Julia comes to terms with and embraces her heritage through their project. The book also deals with racism and stereotyping when Julia and Patrick befriend an elderly African-American man, something Julia’s mother isn’t too comfortable with. Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed were conversations between Julia and the author, sandwiched in between the chapters. Julia asks Park questions about the plot and why she might have written certain things. This book made me both laugh and cry. It is extremely well written: Julia’s thoughts and schemes seem like something ! > any desperate child could dream up. I strongly recommend that everyone should read this book.
Darla

I liked Project Mulberry but it was hard to get into at first. This book was about two kids named Julia and Patrick. Julia and Patrick decide to do a silkworm project but they need to find a Mulberry tree. I liked the way it ended.
Lilah

I liked this book because it had an interesting problem, covered racism and the
character talked to the author. It’s well worth the read.
Eli

I think this book may deserve a Newbery Award, because it is well written and unique. It is about a Korean American girl named Julia and her friend Patrick who are working together on a project for the state fair. While they are working on their project, the friends encounter and explore racism and prejudice. The main characters are in middle school, but I think this book would be enjoyed by younger kids. I really liked it and I am in third grade.

Plot- This book is not supposed to be suspenseful, but the plot is well Developed and goes at a nice pace. I was able to remember the story, because I wasn’t rushing to get to the end.

Characterization- I really liked the main characters. They were extremely realistic and easy to relate to. I would want to be friends with them. I just pretended they were my age. All the secondary characters were good too. I could sense their personalities also.

Point of view- One of the most distinctive things about this book is the point of view. Julia is the narrator, but in between chapters, she and the author have conversations. I really liked this technique and this is one of the reasons I think it deserves a Newbery.

Setting- Very well done. I felt I in the story.

Style- Realistic fiction. Very believable dialogue. Great use of language.

Theme- The theme is very important to this story because Julia explores her feelings about being Korean and how people treat her and her family. She also has to think about her mother’s feelings about African Americans. The author is trying to raise awareness of prejudice and encourage racial equality. She does this successfully in this fun to read story.
Scott

I thought Project Mulberry was very well written. I especially liked how the author talked to the character in between chapters. I thought the characters were very well developed. I would highly recommend this book for the Newbery Award.
Myles



Reaching for the Moon
by Buzz Aldrin
I read Buzz Aldrin reaching the moon. It is about a boy named Buzz Aldrin. He was in the Navy he met a friend named Ed White. Then he got asked to go on a space mission to the moon.He went with Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins.It is a great autobiography.I recommend this book to anyone.I think it should get the Newbery.
Peter



Roberto Clemente Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
By Jonah Winter

I read Roberto Clemente pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is about a boy who wants to play baseball so much he made his own mitt and bat. He wanted to be on a winning
team. One day he got asked by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play on their team. He said
yes and they went from last place to first place. I recomend this book to anyone
that likes baseball.
Peter



Shredderman Meet the Gecko
by Wendelin Van Draanen

This was a good book, I liked it and I think it should get the Newbery Award. I liked how the author worded the book. I also liked the scene in the story of Cedar Valley’s Old Town. Last, I like the whole idea of the story Shredderman.
Ryan


Shredder Man is one of the best books I've read so far in the Newbery Club. I
think many people will enjoy Shredder Man 3 and all of the other Shredder Man
books.
Anna

Shredderman Enemy Spy was a good book. It is about a boy who finds out
about a spy ring. He hands the information into the police as Shredderman.
He then realizes his mistake might lead to his unmasking.
Ryan



Sly the Sleuth and the pet mysteries
by Donna Jo Napoli
This story is about Sly and the pet mysteries. In chapter one she has a cat as
the
pet. In the second chapter the pet is a fish. In chapter three a dog is the pet.

It is a funny, great book. I loved it.
Patricia

Song of the Water Boatman
By Joyce Sidman
I read the Song of the Water Boatman. It is a poetry book about spring and ponds. My favorite poem was called "Into the Mud". I liked it because it was about a turtle and it
burrowed into the ground because it was winter. I recomend this book to anyone who
likes ponds and life in the pond.
Peter

Song of the Water Boatman was great. All the poems were really descriptive. "Listen for Me" was my favorite poem in the book.
Anna

Song of a Water Boatman
Joyce Sidman
This is a lovely collection of poems that we would have missed if not for Newbery Club. We took a break from our chapter books one evening and read the poems together. The poems are exceptionally well written, rich and descriptive. Each poem has a companion text describing the creature or the subject of the poem. This book combines poetry with science in distinctive way,
making this a perfect book for the classroom. Although we are not to consider them for the Newbery, the hand colored woodcut illustrations beautiful! Reading Song of the Water Boatman was certainty the most pleasant trip I have had to a pond and also one of the easiest science lessons for the boys. Although we all find it extremely difficult to compare poetry to novels in
trying to determine possible Newbery winners, this book is deserving of recognition and we would recommend it to children and adults of all ages.

David, Scott, and Ellen Hatch



Spy Mice: The Black Paw (ARC-advance reading copy)
by Heather Frederick

I didn’t like it! Didn’t finish the book.
Lilah

Stink, the Incredible Shrinking Kid
by Megan McDonald

Stink was the shortest person in his family and in room D2. The author made the book flow page after page. Megan McDonald had a great plot. I really understood the characters, when they were speaking. When Judy dropped Newt down the drain,I felt like I was there with Newt. I liked the book a lot. The author really put some amazing parts of the story. I recommend this book for seven to ten age group.
Samantha

I liked Stink the Incredible Shrinking Kid alot but compared to the other books I read so far. I don't think it should get the Newbery Award. Things just happened. The author didn't go into things enough. That's why I didn't like this book enough for the Newbery Award.
Ryan

I think Stink, the Incredible Shrinking Kid was ok. The problem is it does not stick on one subject. I think the characters are interesting and nice.
Marley



Stumptown Kid
By Carol Gorman and Ron J. Finley

I think this book may deserve a Newbery Award, because the relationship of  the two main characters is uniquely special. The book is about a 12 year boy  named Charlie whose father died in the Korean War and a Negro baseball league  player named Luther. They develop a special friendship and help each other.  Something terrible that happened to Luther in the past follows him to the small  Iowa town where Charlie lives and danger threatens them.

 Plot- This book is sometimes suspenseful, especially at the end when Luther and  Charlie are in danger. It is well developed and there are many sub plots such as  friendship, baseball, prejudice and what it means be a real hero.

 Characterization- Charlie and Luther become special friends and help each other  to solve some very private, personal problems and both characters become better  and braver. To get out of danger, they had to believe and trust each other. I  really liked these characters, because of their friendship and trust of each  other.  The secondary characters were also very well done. I really felt sorry  for Charlie’s mom, but at the end she learned she could go on with out her  husband and she was confident enough to let Luther visit her home.

 Point of view- Charlie is the narrator and the dialogue is believable. Charlie  even makes mistakes with his language.

 Setting-It is believable as a small Iowa town, but is not that important to the  story.

 Style: Historical fiction.

 Theme- The theme is very important to this story. It is you should pick your  friends by who they are inside, not what they look like or what color they are  and if someone is your friend you should trust them and help them no matter what  happens or what the situation is.

 This book was fun to read because it was a sports and suspense story, but the  message was also really valuable.

Scott



Technically, It’s Not My Fault
by John Grandits

The book is a gook book. It is a book that had poems in it. I liked it because you can read it over and you will still enjoy it. It is a book you can read quickly. The poems are funny. I think it s a good book. My favorite poem was Technically, It’s Not My Fault. The poems were about a boy, Robert. I think kids could relate to him. I will recommend this book to my friends.
Natasha




Things Left Unsaid
By Stephanie Hemphill

Please describe the most memorable part of your book: This was a poem book was written as a poem book and this style was new to me. It was about a girl named Sarah who is always a good girl. She is seventeen. Then she meet this girl, Robin, who dresses in black all the time and smokes. Sarah always follows Robin. But then Robin has an accident and is in the hospital. With Robin gone, Sarah becomes more independent. She stops wearing black, starts speaking up and making more friends. In the end she writes a letter to Robin, saying that she's moving on, and that she's inviting Robin to come along. It was a good book but definitely a teenager book.
Janna

The Time Hackers
by Gary Paulsen

Unoriginal storyline-very similar to "Time Warp Trio." Well written and easy to follow.
Sean

This was a great book but, I don’t think it was a Newbery; it might be a Newbery honor though. It was about two kids named Frank and Dorso, who lived sometime in the future. Dorso’s laptop got a strange chip in it that could pull them back in time to any place but the chip wasn’t under their control, someone else could control it. The boys got pulled into another time whenever they were near Dorso’s laptop. They are stuck trying to stay alive and figure out what’s happening. This book would be good for anyone 10-15, especially people that like computers.

Plot
The plot was very suspenseful. I read the book very quickly, however it’s only 87 pages long.

Characterization
Dorso and Frank are very well described. I can envision them clearly. The secondary characters, like the time freaks, are also very well described.

Point of View
The point of view is third person.

Setting
The setting is described exceptionally well. You can envision everything, even the things that aren’t that significant to the plot.

Style
The style is science fiction.

Theme
The theme is never give up.

My critisim of the book is I think it is too short because the story could have
been longer and more in depth.
David



The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela
by Uri Shulevitz
Please describe the most memorable part of your book: This book is about the travels of Benjamin of Tudela, Spain.He traveled the "then known world" in the year 1159 AD.Although this book was ntresting ,I found the book got more confusing as it progressed.Part of the confusion is that the words only tell half the story and the pictures were needed to tell the other half.I think this book does not deserve the Newbery award.And that is what I think.
Anna

I really liked this book, but I don’t think it is a Newbery, because it is not as good as other Newbery winners I
have read. However, I would recommend kids that like history read this book. It is a picture book for older readers 6-9 or so.

Benjamin of Tudela is a medieval Jewish trader and this is the story of his fourteen year long journey through Europe, the Middle East .and Asia. The author has written the book in a style young readers would find interesting and also so they can understand what life was like in medieval times. The illustrations are really good too.
Scott

Whales on Stilts
by M.T. ANDERSON

I never finished the book because I did not like it.The book started out good but then it got strange and and I could not realate to it.The kids were really weird and their ideas were unbelieveable.
Victoria

I thought Whales on Stilts was a funny and unique book. It is a science fiction book spoof. The author got his character's feelings across in a way that made you notice them. To do this the author put in fake ads, big and small print, and dictionary clippings. (If there was a difficult word, there would be sort of a dictionary clipping to explain the word.) The plot is about a mad scientist trying to take over the world with the help of whales on stilts, and the group of friends that try to stop him. My favorite part of the book is when the main characters find out what the character Larry actually is. I enjoyed this book very much.
Brian

Whales on Stilts was a very good book. I think that this book was a little crazy too. This book is about three kids named Lily, Katie, and Jasper who have to save the world from mutant whales. It was worth the read.
Lilah

Whales on Stilts was a very funny and wild book. The plot made sense but it was definitely not predictable. It is about a company who's employees that dont know that it is evil. They are making stilts for whales and implants that control their thoughts and given them lazer vision. The characters are good because they are very different and they each have strong roles in the story. The setting was modern times. I recommend this book to everyone. 
Tyler 

Whales on Stilts was a very weird book. It is half adventure and half mystery. The characters are interesting. I would recommend this book to all ages 7 and above. The plot was good. It was easy to follow. The story is about a company that makes stilts for whales and other inventions. The author has a great imagination. I would definitely read other books by this author. 
Marley 

I read a book called Whales on Stilts. It took me awhile to get into the story. But once I got into the story I realized that it was a good book. It was a very unique story.
Anna

Whales on Stilts was a good, funny book. I think it should get the Newbery Award. It is about whales on stilts that try to take over the world. Larry (half whale-half human) controlls them. Will Lily and her friends stop Larry and his stilt-walking laser-beam-eyed whale army? Read this book and find out.
Ryan

Although Whales on Stilts is highly creative, original, and unique, in my opinion, it’s not distinguished in the way a Newbery book should be. This weird tale is about a mad scientist trying to take over the world with whales. If you like bizarre books and your 9-12, this would be a book for you. The plot is suspenseful but some parts don’t make sense. The style is unique because the author includes odd footnotes, big print, small print, and fake ads. I think the author spent too much time being weird. One part of the book went like this: “It was even more dangerous then Lily and her friends knew. Why? I’ll tell you.*” “*Are you grateful? If so I like carrot cake.” One of the characters, Jasper, talks weirdly which makes it difficult to understand what he’s saying at times. I think this book just might not have been my style.
David

Whales on Stilts
P. T. Anderson
Whales on Stilts is a uniquely funny book! It is about Mutant whales trying to take over the world, because an evil genius is controlling them. Three kids stop the mad scientist and save the world. I think it might be a Newberry and more people should read it. I would recommend this book to boys or girls 8 -13, especially if you like funny stories.

Plot-The story is very suspenseful and very fast paced. You want to keep reading. I read it from start to finish in 2 hours after school one day.

Characterization- The kids were really well described. I wanted to be Friends with them. The mad scientist was one of the craziest characters I have
ever met.

Point of view- Third person.

Setting- The story is vividly and very creatively described. I could imagine all the bizarre events that took place.

Style- This book is a big joke on science fiction stories. My mom explained that this style is called a satire or spoof. It is the first I have read. The author also uses lots of odd spacing of words, notes at the bottom of the page ads and other unusual stuff.

Theme- It is just a big joke!!
Scott

This was a rather odd story. I still liked it though. It was about a mad scientist trying to take over the world. Three kids Lilly , Katie and Jasper tried to stop him and they succeeded. I liked this book because it was a very individual story that stands out like a sore thumb! I will recommend it to my friends.
Natasha

Whittitngton
by Alan Armstrong

I really liked this book and think it might be a Newbery. It is about an 8
 year old boy named Ben, who is dyslectic and is having trouble learning to read.
 A cat named Whittington comes to Ben’s uncle Bernie’s farm. He retells the story of Dick Whittington and helps Ben and his farm animal friends solve their
 problems. I would recommend this book to boys or girls 8-11. It would also be a very good read out loud especially for a child who is having trouble with reading.

 Plot-The plot of this book is unusual, because there is a story with in a story.  The stories are mixed together. Sometimes a whole chapter is the present or the past and sometimes both are in one chapter. The cat always introduces the past because he is the storyteller. This technique was a great way to solve Ben’s problem.

 Characterization- The characterization was really good. I felt as if I was the neighbor spying on Ben and his animal friends and eavesdropping when Whittington told his story.  .

 Point of View-Present is third person so is the past with the cat as the storyteller.

 Setting-Very well done. I could really envision London during the telling of Dick Whittington’s story. The choice of descriptive words made a big impact. I didn’t think the author did quite as good a job describing the present though.

 Style- Besides being a story within a story, this is also a tale about talking animas that help children. There is history in it too.

 Theme-This book is about how powerful a good story is and that reading is about listening and telling and sharing too.

Scott