A Million Ways Home

Author: Dianna Dorisi Winget
Response By: Mackenzie

A Million Ways Home is a book about a girl named Poppy Parker who has witnessed a crime. Her Grandmother who she calls Grandma Beth, had a stroke and is in a nursing home. Since Poppy is a valuable witness, an Officer named Detective Brannigan (Trey) says that Poppy can stay with his mom for a while until they catch the murderer/robber. Poppy makes a kind of friend named, Lizzie. And an awesome friend named, Gunner a beautiful German Shepard.

Poppy is tough, she has been through a lot. Her parents have passed, and her legal guardian is her grandmother who recently had a stroke, so Poppy is in an orphanage. Here is a quote of where she is tough. ‘Marti (Trey’s mom) started toward me, but then held back as Miss Austin (Orphanage owner) reached me first. “Your grandma’s been cared for, Poppy. She had another stroke early this morning. I’m so sorry.”’ I felt so bad for Poppy in this part! And if her grandmother passes, she won’t have anyone left. What would you do if you lost everyone? Everything? Another part where she is tough is when Officer Brannigan forbids her to go off by herself to get her bike and ride to the Huckleberry Home (where her grandma is staying for a nursing home), but she does it anyway. That shows that she id tough. This quote is when Trey finds her and makes her leave. “Trey stared me into silence and jerked his thumb at the car. “Get in.”

I pinched my lips together and climbed into the front seat. Trey slid behind the wheel and shut his door.

“Sorry” I said “I didn’t mean to laugh.”

He turned to face me. “Did you hear me last night?”

His dark eyes drilled into me, and suddenly it felt like we were way too close together. “Yeah.”

“Did you think I was joking?”

“No”

“You just figured you knew better?”

“No. I just needed to be here to see my grandma’s physical therapy, and I didn’t want to wake your mom up. I wasn’t trying to upset anybody.” I don’t think Poppy did anything wrong. All she wanted to do was see her sick grandmother.

I am in the middle of reading this book, A Million Ways Home. I am really liking it so far. I like it because it is sad, funny, happy, and a little scary. It leaves you on the edge of your seat. Those are my kind of books. The book has 242 pages and 14 sad chapters.

The book A Million Ways Home is a great read for fifth graders. But if you don’t like anything sad or even a little scary, I wouldn’t recommend it. I love it, and I hope I never finish!

Hotel For Dogs Book Review

By Gabriela T

Hotel for Dogs is about a girl named Andi and her brother Bruce. It all started when Andi and her family moved to Aunt Alice’s house. When they moved Andi couldn’t bring her dog Babe because Aunt Alice is allergic to dogs. When Andi finds a cute little dog on the street, she brings the dog inside but her mother tells her no dogs in the house so Andi can’t bring the little dog inside. When Andi’s father comes inside from the rain and shakes off then realizes that he is getting the carpets all wet. When everyone is trying to clean the carpets they don’t notice the little dog that run between her father’s legs but Andi does. A few days later Andi finds the little dog in a closet in her room. When Andi finds the do she named the dog Friday. To Andi’s surprise Friday had puppies. When Andi and Bruce moved into the neighborhood there was an old abandoned house. When Bruce found out that a crazy boy in the neighborhood named Jerry smashed out the back windows of the house. Andi and Bruce decided to turn the old house into a dog hotel. One day Bruce went out side to meet Jerry. When Bruce started to walk over to Jerry’s house a big red-dog cam bounding towards him. When Bruce started to pet the dog when Jerry came out and called the dog’s name. “Red Rover come here now!”

Red Rover went over to Jerry after a couple of yells from him. When Red finally went over to Jerry, Jerry smacked Red right between the shoulder blades and Red let out a yelp of pain. When Jerry hooked Red up to a wagon and made him run he ran out into the street and a car smashed the wagon behind him and he ran away. A few nights later Bruce found Red lying down under a bush with the rope still tied around his neck. Bruce untangled him and brought him to the dog hotel. To read more how Bruce and Andi are doing with the do hotel read Hotel for dogs.

LOST BOY BY TIM GREEN PAPER BY JACK 

The book Lost Boy by Tim Green is one of the best books I have ever read. I am only in the beginning of the book, on page 60 out of 299 but I can say it now it is AMAZING! If you are very emotional “like my teacher Mrs. Schmidt J” I would not recommend you read this book… unless you like to ball you eyes out. Lost boy is a very sad book. It is by my opinion Mr. Green’s best book… so far. This is a book about baseball and… sorry I do not want to spoil the book for you. All I will say is if you love a deep sad and adventurous story this book is for you.

I like this book because it gets my adrenaline rushing and it just keeps making me turn the page. Like the part when Ryder finds out that… oops I did it again, sorry. “ I don’t have a father” Ryder cast his eyes on the floor. “I Never saw him” “But he has a father” Mr. Starr said. This was my favorite part because it is where the action begins. This is where Ryder finds out who his dad really is. Please read this book, again I say it’s AMAZING!

Thanks for reading

Survival Titanic reviewed by Connor

Duey calls the book I just finished reading Survival Titanic and K.A. Bale in this book there are 14 chapters and 175 pages. This book is about a kid named Karoline and a guy named Gavin. He is going to America from Ireland to be alone with Karoline. Karoline’s parents died and they are going to New York. Her Aunt Rose is traveling with her. The Titanic sunk on the way to New York they got to a lifeboat. Then got to another ship and her Aunt Rose was there. Gavin made a friend on the Titanic and his name was Harry. On page 142 Gavin said “Do you know where Harry is?” This shows that Gavin is worried that he might lose his friend. Gavin works in the galley on the Titanic. What will Gavin, Aunt Rose and Karoline what will they find. I really loved this book because it was like the movie.

Wonder By: R.J. Palacio
Reviewed by: Greta
Hello fellow readers!!! Looking for a good book to read? Well, I think the book Wonder is an amazing read. It has 313 pages and has 8 parts in the story. Parts, not chapters. Let me summarize the story. A boy named August Pullman has a facial deformity. He has been home schooled his whole life, until now. August decides that he wants to be treated like a normal kid despite the fact of his deformity. So, August decides to go to Beecher Prep Middle School. The school is in North River Heights which is at the tip of Manhattan. He has gone through 27 surgeries and now has to deal with mean kids, parents, and the fear of not making any friends. Here’s a quote from the book. “For a while, the “war” was all we talked about. Febuary was when it was really at its worst.That’s when practically nobody was talking to us, and Julian had started leaving notes in our lockers. The notes to Jack were stupid, like: You stink, big cheese! and Nobody likes you anymore! I got notes like: Freak! And another that said: Get out of our school,orc!” This is towards the end of the book, but now August actually has true friends like Jack Will and Summer Dawson. This is one of my favorite reads. This is the second time I read this book. It is heart warming, worth tears, and keeps you wanting to turn the page. I really sugest you read this book!

Please note:  These are being posted as submitted to the hand-in folder.  They have not been corrected for spelling or editing or required content.  All kid produced! Enjoy!   Please leave us a comment! 

Book: Dash        Author: Kirby Larson

Reviewed by:  Katie

Hi everyone! I am reading the book Dash By: Kirby Larson.

This book is about a girl named Mitsi and the Japanese were attacking her hometown so they had to leave. Mitsi was upset that she had to leave all her friends and school but she thought she could be with her dog, Dash. Until, the next day, pages, 63 to 64:

“She got out the milk-bones from the kitchen. ‘Where are you going with that?’ Pop asked.

“Don’t worry- I’ll carry it’

‘Honey,’ Pop cleared his throat. ‘Dash can’t go with us.’

Mitsi and her family are now at the camp right now and it is not going so well. What I like about the book is how interesting and how intense it is. I hope that dash and Mitsi can see each other again. I would recommend this book to kids who are in 4^th and up and if you like intense, sad, and edgy books, this book is the right one for you!

Little house on Rocky Ridge      

Reviewed by:  Maddie

“Rose” that is my name. I went on a wild journey with my neighbors and there sons to find land in Nebraska. On my way we have been through dust storms, thunder, rain, and lightning. I found a dog his name is Fido he is small but a good watchdog we were looking for a big farm. We found a beautiful farm we have springs, big pools of water, lots of trees that have fruit on them, a old house that I think is wonderful but could use a fixer upper. The last night we stayed in the wagon Fido woke me with his loud bark a man named Cyrus was there he was old, limp, and hungry but my dad gave him some food but we have no food so my mom said “manly we have Rose to think of.” He said he is a good helper and would help my dad cut wood to sell. It terns out he wasn’t lying.

Million-Dollar Throw

Reviewed by Cole

“Nate had taken his ticket home and put it in the trophy case with the Brady ball and hadn’t taken it out until the day of the drawing, watching with his parents and Abby as James Brown called out the winning numbers, one after another.

Every one of them on Nate’s ticket. …

The man from SportStuff said, ‘A million-dollar throw from a one-in-a-million kid.’

James Brown had said, ‘Hope he’s a quarterback.’

And Nate said to the television, ‘I am’ “ (Pg.13-14)

I just finished reading the book Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica; it has 244 pages in 32 chapters. The book is about a star quarterback who has been given the chance of a lifetime. To make a throw from the Patriots 30 yard line to win one million dollars! But it’s not like Nate’s life is perfect. Well actually he’s got it pretty bad. His dad lost his job and now is working two jobs and they still can’t afford many things, and his best friend, Abby, is going blind. And with all of this pressure on him Nate’s football skills seem to be fading. This book would be good for someone who likes football and the Patriots. But it’s not all about football. Actually more of the book is about Nate handling how Abby is going blind and the situation with his family. I really liked this book, because of its combination of sports and real life problems. 9.9/9.9, great book!-Cole

One For The Murphys Book Review

Reviewed by Annika

“”Why? Are you the only one who can hit her?” This wasn’t smart to say, but the bruises I had seen in my mother-even before their wedding-made me so mad”

“Daniel glares, and I am surprised at how his words cut me. ”Just because your mother doesn’t want you doesn’t mean you can take mine”

He runs.

And so do I.

Recently, I read one of my new favorite books, One for the Murphys, by Linda Mullaly Hunt. This book has 224 pages and 50 short chapters. It is a book about family, love, dreams, friends, and trust. It teaches the best life lessons, and is one of the best books to read. You will always be on the edge of your seat, and will never be bored. It is a story of a young girl, Carley, trying to find out were she belongs, and how her past really was. This book will make you laugh but also cry. It is heartwarming and detailed, and I never wanted to put the book down. I hope you will read this book, and enjoy it as much as I did. My friend and I read this as a partner book, and made a book trailer below. Happy reading!

One For The Murphys

Reviewed by: Julia

I am in the middle of reading the book One For The Murphys written by Lynda Mullay Hunt. It is about this girl named Carley and Carley is a foster child. Her mother and father got separated and her mother met a guy named Dennis. Carley hate Dennis and one day she was in the house bouncing a basketball and her mom came in smelling like alcohol and Dennis got fired as an Elvis impersonator and Carley got him made. So he starts to chase her but when she was dribbling the ball her mom fell trying to get it and hurt her leg. So when Dennis is chasing Carley her mom grabs her leg and she thought it was hurting her so. But she was holding her so Dennis could hit and kick her. So that was how she ended up being a foster. I find this book so powerful and it is so touching. It is a book that will make you want to cry but at some parts laugh. It is such a good book because it is just about this girl and she is having to live with another family and one of the kids hates her. And she has to eat dinner and see how these kids have a perfect life with their mom. I mean this girl has been through a lot and the fact that she doesn’t even want to live with this family is sad because she is just going to have to go with another family and she might not like that family either. I could never picture living in her shows. So in my eyes this girl is a fighter not a failure.

Out of My Mind

Reviewed by Talia

My favorite book is Out Of My Mind it is by Sharon M Draper. The reason I like it so much and think that more 5^th graders should read it is because it is so touching. The reason why I think it is so touching is because there is this girl named Melody and she cannot talk or walk of do anything with big movements without her body freaking out of her. The reason the book is called Out of My Mind is because she is really smart but she cannot talk so she cannot tell the answers to anyone. She goes out of her Mind because of it. A reason why I think that more 5^th graders should read this is because when you read it is like you are Melody and it is like you are in her shoes. This is the most touching book I have ever read.

Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key

Reviewed by Kyle

In the book Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key by Jack Gantos the main problem is that Joey is wacked up. He thinks he is like this because the meds he takes are dud meds. One second he will be fine then the next he will be nuts. I really like the book and I recommend it to anyone who likes action, funny, and unexpected things you would never think of. The reason I am liking the book is because most books start out boring but this one starts with the first sentence as “ At school they say I’m weird, or wired mad, or wired sad, or wired glad, depending on my mood and what the teacher has ended up with me.” When I first read that sentence I wanted to read more because I wanted to see what crazy things Joey Pigza would do. The book has 154 pages, and 16 chapters. It is more of a quick read that won’t be stressful and very easy. And while you are reading you are not just doing it because you have to you are reading it because it makes you laugh and relaxed.