Saturday, October 31, 2009

3 More for Cybils to end October


The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone - Dene Low
Publisher: Houghton Miflin, 2009
Pages: 196
ISBN: 978-0-547-15250-9
Source: Library

Petronella is preparing for her coming out party when disaster strikes. An unknown type of beetle flies into her Uncle's mouth. As her guardian she needs him to be there for her. He is suddenly behaving very peculiar. He is snatching bugs out of the air and eating them. As the party approaches her Uncle tries to behave himself. Unfortunately while trying to nab a tasty delight he causes the party tent to collapse on the guests. When everyone is removed they realize that the Count and Countess have disappeared. A ransom note with a squashed bug is found. Petronella enlists the aid of her friends to try to find the kidnapped friends. She must rely on her Uncle to help while trying to stay out of the way of relatives who want nothing more than to get their hands on her money. I enjoyed the large words and the words hear mostly in the UK but I know my reading students would struggle with understanding and abandon this book before they got a chapter in. It was a cute book but not necessarily one I would put on my shelves. I felt as if it dragged on and on at times.



Jemma Hartman Camper Extraordinaire by Brenda A. Ferber
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 215
ISBN: 978-0-374-33672-1
Source: Library

Jemma hartman is headed to camp. She has waited all year to hook up with her best friend Tammy who had moved away. Jemma and her family wait at the teh bus for Tammy only to see Tammy arrive with her cousin Brooke in tow. Brook's parents are divorcing and she is staying with Tammy. This is the beginning of a summer Jemma will never forget. She spends four wonderful weeks at Camp Star Lake, having fun learning to ski, sail and learn what true friendship is all about. I really liked this book. It was so true to life. The characters were very believable. It showed the true joy and pain of friendship. This is another book for my shelves. I know my sixth graders can relate to it.
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love by Laura Tarshis
Publisher: Dial Books, 2009
Pages: 169
ISBN: 978-8037-3321-3
Source: Library
Emma Jean Lazarus was a fun character. She talks as if she is more mature and knows all abour the male species. Spring Fever has hit her school and talk of the Spring Dance is everywhere. Emma and her friends plan a sleepover instead of going to the dance. Then one day at lunch they one of the girls announces they have asked a boy to the dance. Suddenly the others decide they will ask one. Colleen doesn't have a boy to ask. Later Colleen finds a mysterious letter in her locker telling her how special she is. Suddenly she has to know who her secret admirer is. She askes Emma Jean to find out who her secret admirer is. This was a wonderful story. I see thsi everyday at my school. The lesson learned from having that first crush, friends who really care and the mistakes that happen in true friendships are found throughout this book. I really enjoyed it.



The opinions expressed in these review are mine alone and do not represent the views of the panel.

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