Student Saturday: School of Fear - Gitty daneshvari

Student Reviewer - Kamryn

School of Fear. One of the most terrifying places you could have ever been. Deep, deep fear will lurk inside you if you go there  to face your fears in the most horrific way.

Theo, Garrison, Madeline, and Lulu have the biggest fear of four different things; death, water, bugs and small spaces. Their biggest fears. They need all the help they can get. Everyone believes that only School of Fear can do the trick. This book was a very interesting book not only about how the four recover their fears, but how they save School of Fear. The School of Fear is located at the top of one of the tallest mountains in New England, hidden from anybody that comes their way. Day and night it is invisible to all other living things.

I believe that the School of Fear is one of the most terrifying places to go, but also one of the best places to go. I think this because you can recover your fear in billions and billions of odd ways, but you still do it.

I would definitely recommend this to a teacher so she/he could read it to their students. The reason I would do this is because when I was in fifth grade, my teacher would always have some of the BEST books in the world to read to our class that would make me never want to go to lunch because I didn't want her to stop. And I LOVE food!!! I felt like this book would be  one of those kind of books that you wouldn't want to put down!

I can make a connection to this book because when my two friends were going to a non IB school they thought that I was going to some weird school that made me gifted and special and them normal. I think that an IB school is a well taught school that wants their students to exceed so I didn't listen to them.

This book is very detailed but in the best ways possible! I LOVED this book !!!!!!

Two Great Books For Children

The Four Seasons of Patrick – Susan Hughes

Pages: 96

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Source: Review Copy

From Goodreads:

It's the start of winter, and Patrick is beginning to feel crowded out of his own family. His father's friend, Linda, and her seven-year-old daughter, Claire, are coming for dinner again. By the time spring arrives, not only is Patrick's father planning to marry Linda, but she and Claire will be coming to live with them at the summer's end. That just won’t do. So Patrick comes up with a big idea. He'll build a tree house where he can stretch out his arms and breathe. But wait. Will his father allow it? Where will he find the perfect tree? Who will give him a hand with the construction? And, most importantly, will his own tree house really be the hideaway he hopes for, especially from the irritating Claire?

As the autumn season arrives, Patrick discovers some surprising answers to these questions – and learns a little about the meaning of family.

My Thoughts:

This was a wonderful book with a wonderful message. As a teacher I see so many blended families. I hear kids tell me their feelings about such families. In this story we find Patrick, his older brother and their father living together after the death of their mother. Then dad starts dating a woman with a seven year old daughter. This doesn't go over well with Patrick. She gets into his things and kicks him. He sees her as a pest. When dad announces he is going to marry Linda and move her and her daughter Clare in with them Patrick decides to build a treehouse to give him space from this new family. He finds the perfect tree and sets about building it while his dad renovates the house for Clare. After Linda and Clare move in Patrick learns he is not the only one hurting about the situation. You really need to read the book to see how it turns out. I think anyone facing a situation like this needs to read this book to or with their children. It has a discussion guide in the back, but more than that I see it opening the doors of communication.

 The Cow-Pie Chronicles – James L. Butler

Pages: 192

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Humor

Source: Review Copy

From Goodreads:

Ten-year-old Tim Slinger and his nine-year-old sister Dana face danger, excitement, and heartbreak in this story of life on a modern family farm. Though Tim (aka Poop Slinger) and "Devil" Dana engage in intense sibling rivalry that gets them both into hilarious situations with barns, ropes, farm animals, city-kid cousins, and each other, they are soon forced to confront unwanted changes when the farm is lost. As they face an alien world in town, Dana readily adapts to a new way of life while Tim resists, sending the siblings down separate but intersecting paths. Although an unexpected encounter puts Tim back into familiar surroundings, will life ever be the same? This fresh and humorous account of modern rural living brings a unique approach to the time-tested theme of families and communities coming together under challenging circumstances.

My Thoughts:

Growing up on a farm I could relate to so much of this. It brought back fond memories. On a farm you have to use your imagination to play.  I also remember when my city cousins would visit how much fun they had.  I couldn’t wait to spend the night in town with them.  It seemed like there was so much more to do.  I even recall saying I would move to the city when I grew up.  Then like Tim and his family we moved away from the farm.  The difference is we sold our farm to move to Florida.  We had chores just like Time and Dana.  We had accidents that required stitches from doing stupid things or things we weren’t supposed to do.  Dana easily adapts to life in the city as did all of my siblings.  I like Tim had a hard time adjusting and look forward to one day when my husband and I can move back to a rural area. We currently live in the city because my elderly mother lives with us.  She has recently started to reminisce about “the good old days on the farm”.  I think kids who have never lived on or been to a farm will enjoy this and learn a lot.  I also believe that children/adults who grew up on a farm will enjoy and be able to relate to this story.  I, like Tim, can look back on my life and see how living on a farm shaped me and my work ethic.  This is a wonderful book and I look forward to reading so much more by this author, and recommending the book to everyone.

Full Disclosure:  I received a copy of each book in exchange for my honest review.  I received no compensation and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Real Dogs Don’t Whisper by Kelly Preston

Pages: 200

Genre: NonFiction

Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own. I was not compensated in any way.

From Goodreads:

Do you believe in second chances? Real Dogs Don't Whisper book is about second chances and miracles. Special needs dogs teach their human about life and how to believe and live in the moment. Award winning, Real Dogs Don't Whisper is more than a book about dogs - it's a book about life. Named Winner for the 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards, Alex Carroll Radio Publicity Sponsor's Choice. 2013 Silver Award Winner in Readers' Favorite Non Fiction, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in Readers' Favorite Awards, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in the "Animals/Pets: Narrative Non-Fiction" category by International Book Awards. Real Dogs Don't Whisper is about rescue dogs that were ready to be given up on because they have special needs. It is about how these special four taught their human, Kelly, about life. Real Dogs Don't Whisper: Life Lessons from a Larger than Life Dog! (and his Owner), is the true story of a remarkable family as told in a unique way by both Kelly Preston, the owner of the household, and her spunky, hilarious, nine-year old Lhasa Apso, Mr. MaGoo. Kelly, Mr. MaGoo, Buffy, Carla Mae, and Betty Boop. A girl, her two Lhasa Apsos, one Cocker Spaniel, and one adorable mutt - each with their own challenging set of difficulties to overcome. One puppy has serious neurological disorders. Two were severely abused. All are on a journey of discovery. Together, learning love and patience along the way, they have grown and thrived. And perhaps none so much as the girl.

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful book.  You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book.  I grew up on a farm much like the author did.  We raised pigs.  We rented out our fields to neighboring farmers. We always had 1-2 dogs and loads of cats.  I was the cat lover in the family and everyone else the dog lovers.  We took in dogs that were dropped off in the country and found their way to our house, or dogs that were given to us because someone had abused them and they needed a good home.  I could identify with the author in so many ways.  There is  a lot of work that goes with taking in pets like this.  There are ups and down. There are times when you are overjoyed by what your dog is doing and then there are times that  are tough to deal with. Kelly has gone above and beyond with her dogs.  She has taken in dogs with a plethora of medical and personality disorders that would prompt others to put them down.

Another reason to read this book is because of the sheer humor found in it.  The book starts out being told by Kelly’s co-writer and dog, Mr. Magoo.  His humor in the way he sees things makes the story flow. The books is peppered with pictures of her dogs throughout the years.  I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read and review this book.  It is one I will definitely cherish and recommend to my friends.