Brisingr. The Misfits. Prophet of Yonwood. A Wrinkle in Time. Raven's Gate ....
Brisingr. By Christopher Paolini. Critic: Agent 24/7. The Book Brisingr was an.
s Review
st. u r t n you ca
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Critics Vol. 4, Issue 1
www.briarcliffmanorlibrary.org/
December, 2008
Books,Movies,Games,Music,Anime and more... the critics reviews
in this issue
Nothing But the Truth Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life The Luxe Guitar Hero Princess Diaries Little Briitain USA Titanic Brisingr The Misfits Prophet of Yonwood A Wrinkle in Time Raven’s Gate Monica Comics Twilight Blue Bloods
? Agent 24/7 Anonymous APSJALHO Biscuit Chocolate Pink Heart Da Man I-Need-a-Creative-Penname Lynn Minn Mona Lisa Peace, Love, Happiness StarChild
join the club Do you want to be a critic? Contact Amy Kaplan, Children & Teens Librarian at Briarcliff Manor Public Library. 941-7072 or
[email protected]
The opinions expressed in the reviews are not necessarily the opinion of the Library. The appropriateness of the materials reviewed is not for the Public Library to determine and the students are encouraged to review whatever they’d like—therefore, we encourage parents to be involved in and be aware of their children’s book, movie, television, gaming, and music choices.
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ics Middle School Crit Nothing But the Truth By Avi Critic: StarChild
The Luxe By Anna Godberson
Ninth grader Phillip Malloy is really in trouble now. Every morning at his high school the national anthem is played over the loudspeaker and Phillip likes to sing along. That is, until his homeroom teacher, Ms. Narwin, sends him into the vice principal’s office three times in one week. This leads Phil right into suspension. All of a sudden he becomes a celebrity all over the country. Telegrams arrive at the school every day proclaiming that what was done was unjust and how much they hate Ms. Narwin. No one can figure out what happened that morning in homeroom — Ms. Narwin claims that Phil was causing a disturbance but others think differently. Read Nothing But the Truth by Avi to find out what happens.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life By Wendy Mass Critic: APSJALHO
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life may have been one of the best books I have ever read! The plot is so unique, and it’s packed with action and excitement! The book is about a boy named Jeremy, who receives a mysterious package in the mail that supposedly contains “the meaning of life.” He is instructed to open it on his thirteenth birthday, but the keys didn’t come with the book, and there is no way to open the book without destroying its contents. He and his best friend Lizzy embark on an exciting quest to hunt down the keys. There’s excitement on every page, and once you pick up this book, you won’t be able to put it down! (two thumbs up!)
Critic: Lynn Minn
In a world of both glamour and paupers, Elizabeth and Diana Holland are two pretty sisters who live in the high classy world of Manhattan, 1899. Elizabeth is looked up to as the ruling queen of the social scene of Manhattan, or so everything seems like that. Under the beautiful fluff of Elizabeth’s gown, she hides a secret, one about loving a person, whom she knows she can never marry. When the lovely sisters are thrown into the turmoil of letting their rich life go and transforming slowly into living in poverty, the young rich bachelor Henry Shoonmaker proposes to Elizabeth. Now the elder sister must choose between love and poverty. Each path Elizabeth takes someone is there to block her, from her so say “best friend,” mischievous, socialite Penelope Hayes to the hopeful spiteful maid Lina Broud. However a horrible accident occurs when Elizabeth’s carriage takes an unexpected turn and the beautiful, yet willful Miss Holland is swallowed by the horrible waves of the river. All of a sudden all of Mahattan is devastated, for once upon a time a classic beauty; Elizabeth’s life highlighted the social world, until now. How could such an incident happen...unless it was purposeful…? A tale spun of greediness, love, and the real happenings of the social world of Manhattan in 1899, at the turn of a new century, author Anna Godberson tells the story of five teenagers with very different personalities and very different takes on life.
Middle School Crit
ics
3 Little Britain USA
Guitar Hero
By BBC (TV Show)
Critic: Barack Obama
I, Barack Obama, believe that Guitar Hero is one of the coolest games this presidential season. John McCain thinks not! John here, likes the Hannah Montana music game instead. Now I think that he would be a better pop-star president. But I am the president now. So I say that Guitar Hero is cool. Its levels are different speeds and colors, unlike Hannah Montana. The guitars are awesome too because of the cool designs. Star Power! It boosts my level and I am the master. Your new prez recommends this game to 20 presidents into the future.
Critic: Mona Lisa
Straight from England is the smashing hit, Little Britain USA. It’s a hint mature but is by the far the funniest thing since Shakespeare. It stars Matt Lucas and David Williams. Based off the British show, Little Britain, they brought some of their hilarious characters, like Lou and Andy, from Britain and made up some new ones. It airs on HBO whenever they decide to.
Titanic Movie: Rated PG-13 Critic: I-Need-a-CreativePenname
Princess Diaries By Meg Cabot Critic: I-Need-a-CreativePenname
The Princess Diaries are a slew of stories about a teenage girl’s life. However, that’s not all. Mia Thermopolis is just a normal, unpopular freshman when all of a sudden she finds out she’s the only heir to the throne of Genovia, a small country in Europe. But even though she’s royal, Mia still has no boyfriend, is not popular, and is failing Algebra. The thing about this book that is so different is that it’s a girl’s diary being read, not her life story. Because of this, it has lots of little things you wouldn’t necessarily find in other stories. I recommend this series of books for many reasons, but mostly because they are fun and entertaining. (two thumbs up)
Maybe I’m biased, but Titanic is my absolute favorite movie of all time. It’s about 17-year-old, first class Rose Dewitt-Bukater who is engaged to a man she really hates. When she boards the ship Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, a poor but free bohemian artist. He is everything she wants to be and, of course, they fall in love. But when the ship strikes ice it becomes a race against time - and fate - to escape the rushing water and make sure that they both survive. I have been obsessed with this movie ever since I first saw it in June.
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ics Middle School Crit Brisingr By Christopher Paolini Critic: Agent 24/7
The Book Brisingr was an excellent concluding book to the Eragon series. Brisingr was a strong and intense book with a very climactic ending. I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers. (4.3 out of 5 stars)
The Misfits By James Howe Critic: Da Man
A Wrinkle in Time By Madeleine L’Engle
The Misfits is a bad book for its non-school related topics. What’s the point, it’s just about 4 kids who don’t fit in. And considering it was required for the 7th grade to read, it was even worse!
Prophet of Yonwood By Jeanne DuPrau Critic: Mona Lisa
It sucks. It’s the third book in the series. Don’t bother, the third book isn’t as good as the second book and isn’t close to as good as the first.
Critic: Biscuit
Meg Murray, her mom and her three brothers have been living for some time without Meg’s dad. He and Meg’s mom are really good scientists and the U.S. Government, a while back, asked her dad to do some work for them. “It’s top secret,” they said. During the beginning of the mission the Murrays went with him, but soon they decided to move in permanently to their summer house because he was going to be traveling a lot. For a while, Meg’s mom and dad send letters to each other and the Murrays hear a lot form Mr. Murray. But pretty soon the letters from Mr. Murray stop coming even though Mrs. Murray keeps writing to him! Nobody knows what happened to him, but some think that he ran away and cheated on his wife. Meg, her baby brother CharlesWallis, and his interesting new friends: Mrs. What’s-It, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, and Meg’s new friend Calvin, are going on a journey to find out what really happened. I loved this book and my favorite character was Charles-Wallis.
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ics Middle School Crit Raven’s Gate By Anthony Horowitz Critic: Anonymous
This was a great book. It was a great book because it had lots of action and it was very interesting. The book is about a boy named Matt whose parents died and never had a good life. Then he is shipped off to live with an old woman on a farm. He starts to realize he has powers and the fate of the World rests on his shoulders. For now...
Monica Comics By Mauricio de Sousa Critic: ?
This comic is fun and adorable. The little characters are so cute. Monica is the leader of her group. She is slightly chubby and is always being made fun of by Jimmy S. Monica is very strong though. She has a special bunny for hitting and throwing at him and others. She can hurt people without the bunny but the bunny can be very helpful. Jimmy S. tries to steal the bunny on several occasions. Monica always gets it back though. There are many other characters. Smudge, a boy who is afraid of water. Maggie, a girl who eats all the time...there are many others. You will just have to read them to find out more. (5 out of 5 stars) (to read this comic in English, and not in Portuguese, go to: http://www.monica.com.br/ingles/index.htm)
Twilight By Stephanie Meyer Critic: Peace, Love, Happiness
With three books following and a movie sitting on its shoulders, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is
one of the biggest teen hits. Though released in 2005, the book didn’t get the popularity it has today until 2007. Twilight is a romantic sci-fi novel about a girl named Bella who moved from Phoenix to a town called Forks in Washington State to live with her father. She’d always hated Forks since she was a child until she saw him. Edward Cullen. He was the most elegantly beautiful thing Bella had ever seen. Bella soon found out that Edward was a vampire, but the two still fell in love. Everyone has told me that this book is girly and I listened. But when a friend of mine who was a guy lent the book to me, I decided to try it. It turned out to be a very addicting, amazing book. I would recommend this book to anyone 12+. So if you haven’t read Twilight yet, I would highly recommend it! (5 out of 5 stars)
Blue Bloods By Melissa de la Cruz Critic: StarChild
For those who don’t want to be sucked into the void of Twilight, with all of the romance and whatnot, Blue Bloods is the way to go. It is the story of Schuyler. A young teenager being pulled into the supernatural world. After she is invited to join the meeting that only the most important people in town are allowed to go to, things begin to get strange. Her best friend Oliver begins ignoring her. Then, just when things can’t seem to get worse, her grandmother tells her the truth. She is a vampire. Vampires in this story come back after they die. But lately, some young vampires have had their blood sucked clean out of them, they won’t come back. Now it is up to Schuyler to save them all. (Sequel to: Masquerade)
Middle School Crit
6
ics
?
Da Man
?????
Lynn Minn After trekking all over the deserts of Africa, Lynn returned to school here in Briarcliff, but thinks of taking off to a school in an exotic country. Lynn speaks many languages that enable her to roam the world with her family. She enjoys reading books that allow her to open a world that she loves. Lynn also loves to direct, but gets really nervous on stage. Lynn loves finding interesting souvenirs from around the world!
Mona Lisa Hobbies: hanging out with my boyfriend Leo, sitting down, frowning Favorite places: in front of mountains Likes: modeling Dislikes: Being stared out by thousands of tourists
I-Need-A-Creative-Penname Name: I’ve already mentioned that Age: I sort of lost count I enjoy reading and writing, daydreaming and doodling. I feel it is my duty to the people to help them choose books. You’d be surprised what that can do to people. I can’t draw for my life or spell! My one plea for help is to think of a more creative penname.
Hello!! I am Da Man. I turned 12 years old in October. I live in Briarcliff like most people who learn at Briarcliff Schools. I have a hover car and 5 fish monkeys. I live on Bacon and Coca-Cola, but surprisingly I am not obese. I cannot share any more information or give my picture so I will fly away in my hover car. Although, this will not be the last heard of me.
Biscuit Biscuit is very creative. Biscuit is very cool and her friends are totally jealous. She can balance a beach ball on her nose; she can say the alphabet backwards and forwards. Her favorite color is green ad she plays lead kazoo in a kazoo band. p.s. this is all true.
Chocolate Pink Heart I am always hyper and sweet. I am afraid of the sun. I don’t enjoy being frozen. I don’t have a home. I am always on the run from little kids trying to eat me...ahhh. I might be hard on the outside but I am extra soft on the inside.
Agent 24/7 Peace, Love, Happiness Hobbies: Drumming, Guitar, Riding a skateboard, Chilaxing with friends I attend Briarcliff Middle School. I wake up in the morning and eat food. Then I run after the bus. At school I talk to my friends about traffic. Nothing else to say.
StarChild “Who is this StarChild?” you may ask yourself. She is a 7th grader who, as you may have noticed, is a star. Revealing her real name to you could be hazardous to herself or others around her. StarChild enjoys reading and telling her friends that they are weird. Some of her favorite books include Harry Potter and Twilight.
I am ready 24/7.
Anonymous Hobbies: Golf, Video Games, Music, Lacrosse
APSJALHO Full Name: Alison Plowy Staltson Jacoby Arminio Luna Hobo Oglethorpe Bizarre, short, easily gets high on air Hobbies: Talking, Eating, Talking, Breathing, Poking Loves: Alice Cullen, being weird
