All for the better: A Story of El Barrio

Title: All For The Better: A Story of El Barrio
Author: Nicholasa Mohr
Multicultural/International #2

All For The Better A Story of El Barrio is about an eleven year old, Evelina Lopez during the dark day of the Great Depression. Evelina Lopez leaves Puerto Rico to live with her aunt in New York City. In this story Evelina learns that one person can make a difference as she adjusts to her life in her new home. Evelina in this story made a difference in her community.

I truly enjoyed this book because it was very enlightening to see what this girl had to go though during the great depression. I would recommend that children should read this book because it could help them see what hard times this was on people.

Too Many Tamales

Title: Too Many Tamales
Author: Gary Soto
Multicultural/International #1

This book was an interesting book to read because of the Mexican culture. This book is about a Mexican American Maria. Marie tries her mother's wedding ring on while she is making tamales for Christmas dinner. When the ring goes missing, Maria is sure it is in one of the tamales. She and her cousins try to eat their way out of trouble.

This book is a fun kids book for children to read. This is because of the mystery of where the ring is at. This book tells the lesson of why it is better to tell the truth rather than to panic and try to cover up a problem. I believe that parents will find this book fun to read because what Maria does is typical for any child to do.

Artemis Fowl The Eternity Code

Title: Artemis Fowl The Eternity Code
Author: Eoin Colfer
Series Study: Book #3

Artemis Fowl the Eternity Code is the third book in the Artemis Fowl series. This book is about a thirteen year old boy, again named Artemis Fowl II who is a criminal mastermind, who created a supercomputer which he calls the "C Cube", form a stolen fairy technology. This C Cube is more advanced than any human technology that has been made. This book now travels out side of Ireland, it goes straight to Chicago. This is where Artemis Fowl meets a businessman Jon Spiro, he is meant to show Artemis who the Cube works. Though out traveling to Chicago, Butler the trusty sidekick is killed by one of Spiro's staff. Spiro is quite a challenging opponent for Artemis. He has impressive security devices, and the vault containing the C Cube is nearly unbreakable. Then Commander Julius Root is concerned that Artemis is becoming too much of a liability to the people. Artemis and his staff have submitted to mind-wipes, which will erase anything fairy related from his memory.

This book is a very interesting one because of all the things that happen though out the book. I Still wouldn't recommend this book to any child who is younger than sixth grade because students might not understand what is happening in the story. Parents might have a problem with this book because of the fact of the mythical component.

I truly didn't enjoy this book, it reminded me too much of Harry Potter. I believe this book is not a good book for students to read in school.

Artemis Fowl The Arctic Incident

Title: Artemis Fowl The Arctic Incident
Author: Eoin Colfer
Series Study: Book #2

This book is the second book of the Artemis Fowl series. This book tells the story of Opal Koboi's rising alongside the rescue of the abducted Artemis Fowl the first and second. This book starts with Jerbal Argon, indicating that the book is a report on Artemis Fowl II's behavior, commissioned by the Lower Elements Police. After a quick flashback to the kidnapping of Artemis I, the book then has Artemis Fowl II undergoing an unsuccessful counceling session at the Saint Bartleby's School of Young Gentlemen. Then you read about Butler when he call informing Artemis that a movie file containing footage of the missing Artemis Fowl I had been emailed to him and that the Russian Mafia were responsible. Then going on in the book Artemis Fowl decides to create a rescue force and called in Holly Short (the fairy he kidnapped in the first book) to help rescue his dad. At the end of the story it end with a fight that deals with the return of the Artemis Fowl II and the Artemis Fowl I to the Fowl Manor.

I think this book was an interesting read because of what happened though out the book. I believe that this book should be read in middle school because I think this book is to far fetched for children any younger that they might not be able to understand the story.

Artemis Fowl

Title: Artemis Fowl

Author: Eoin Colfer

Series Study: Book #1

This book is a very interesting book. The book takes place in Ireland with a eleven year old boy named, Artemis Fowl. This book is interesting because of how the book is told. Artemis is a evil mastermind who is trying to get his families fortune back. In this book there are fairies, elves, trolls, and other mythical creatures. After the disappearance of Artemis's father his mother has been in denial and Artemis is left on his own. Along with Artemis he has a trusty sidekick called, Butler. During this book Artemis and Butler end up kidnapping a fairy which, makes the LEPrecon's go nuts.

This book is a good book for children to read because it will help them evolve their imagination. This book is similar to the Harry Potter series because of the out of the box creatures. This book will also help children who read this book be able to create a whole new world for themselves. The only problem I feel I have with this book is that it is a way out there kind of book and it talks about stealing and kidnapping that it could send the wrong message to children and could effect their morals.

Rumble Fish

Title: Rumble Fish
Author: S.E. Hinton
Author Study Book #3

Rumble Fish is an emotional book. This book could be considered a banned book because of the references to drugs, sex and alcohol. This book is a good book for middle school age students because I believe these students could relate the most because they don't know what they want in life. Also, these students tend to get into the most trouble. I would recommend this book to be read in a classroom because students can see the difference in the lives of different characters. This book also touches on abuse and identity.

This book is very emotional but, without meaning for it to be. In this book to learn about what happened to a friendship and also a family. This book is an example of survival of the fittest. This book is emotional because in the first paragraph it sets the theme of the story with the reuniting of old friends. Through out the book unfortunate events take place and things just go down hill.

I really enjoy this book, it is not a typical happy ever after book that kids are forced to read in elementary and middle school. This book is a good change a pace and can teach children different lessons without them realizing it.

Tex

Title: Tex

Author: S.E. Hinton
Author Study Book #2

This book is about life changes for Tex, Tex wants to avoid dealing with the young adolescent side of himself. Tex tries to escape his problems so he goes to a local fair. While Tex was at the fair he ran into a fortuneteller. The fortuneteller informs Tex that change is inevitable, but it doesn't have to change him. Then one day as Tex comes home from school to find that his borther Mason has sold his horse, Negrito, as well as his own horse, Red, because they have run out of money. Tex then goes to look for his horses and runs into his friends Jamie and Johnny Collins.

Through out this book it shows different obstacles that Tex has to over come. He is sick of being the man of the house. I believe this book is not really a good book to read. This is because I would recommend That Was Then, This is Now and The Outsiders over this book. I really didn't enjoy reading this book. I feel students would get bored of reading this book and that they would find the main character to much of a complainer.