Reviewed on: March 12, 2024
Wish written by Barbara O' Conner
"Wish" by Barbara O'Connor tells the heartwarming story of a fifth-grader named Charlie,
who holds onto her daily habit of making wishes in hopes of a better life.
Struggling with her family's problems—her dad being in jail and her mom unable to leave bed—Charlie moves to Colby to live with her aunt and uncle.
There, she learns about friendship and self-control, thanks to her new friend, Howard, who is kind and patient.
I really admire how Charlie never gives up on her dreams, no matter how tough her situation gets.
The book doesn't just offer an entertaining story; it also teaches important lessons about hope, resilience, and the power of change.
Through Charlie's experiences and her evolving relationships, I was able to see how adapting to new environments and being open to the help of others can lead to personal growth and happiness.
It's a story that encourages readers to believe in the possibility of a better tomorrow, making "Wish" a memorable and inspiring book for young readers, like me!
I strongly recommend it to anyone who loves stories about overcoming challenges and finding hope in unexpected places.
Reviewed on: March 12, 2024
Pippa Park Raises her Game by Erin Yun
"Pippa Park Raises Her Game" by Erin Yun is about Pippa, a talented Korean basketball player from Victoria Middle School.
Under pressure from her older sister, Mina, to get good grades, Pippa's life changes when she receives a scholarship
to the prestigious Lakeview Private School based on her basketball skills. At Lakeview, Pippa confronts new challenges,
especially hiding her modest background and the fact that she is a scholarship student, fearing judgment from her wealthy classmates.
The book brilliantly teaches us about themes of identity, social pressures, and the importance of honesty and self-acceptance.
Pippa's journey is filled with ups and downs as she tries to balance her two worlds and live up to expectations.
It’s a compelling narrative that many readers around my age can relate to, dealing with the pressures of fitting in while being yourself.
This story is not just about sports; it’s about personal growth, overcoming obstacles, and the value of true friendship.
"Pippa Park Raises Her Game" is a must-read for those who enjoy realistic fiction with heartwarming lessons.
I strongly recommend diving into Pippa’s world for an entertaining and meaningful experience.
Reviewed on: February 25, 2024
After Zero written by Christina Collins
"After Zero" by Christina Collins is a super cool book about Elise, a twelve-year-old girl who decides to stop talking at her new school.
She made some embarrassing mistakes, like speaking when she shouldn't have, saying a word wrong in class, accidentally insulting someone's dad, and sharing someone's private story during lunch.
So, she starts counting every single word she says. But her silence starts to bother people, and she finds it hard to keep friends.
What I really liked about Elise is how much she cares for others and how she always keeps her promises. "After Zero" is a blast to read, and I totally think you should check it out!
Reviewed on: February 25, 2024
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child written by J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany
"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," written by J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany, and turned into a play script by Jack Thorne, takes us on a wild adventure nineteen years after the original Harry Potter series.
It centers on Harry's youngest son, Albus, and his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy. Unlike his dad, Albus lands in Slytherin, which makes his Hogwarts experience super tough because everyone teases him.
This makes Albus not so fond of Hogwarts.
The drama kicks off when Albus overhears Harry talking about a Time-Turner, a magical device that lets you travel through time, with Amos Diggory, who wants to bring his son Cedric back to life.
Albus and Scorpius decide to be heroes, jumping off the Hogwarts Express to steal the Time-Turner and save Cedric. But things get really twisted.
After their first time-travel adventure, Albus finds himself sorted into Gryffindor,
Harry doesn't want him hanging out with Scorpius anymore because of a wild rumor that Scorpius might be Voldemort's son, and Ron is married to someone else, meaning his and Hermione's kids don't exist!
Not giving up, Albus tries to fix things by time-traveling again, but it only gets worse. This time, Harry is dead, Albus doesn't exist, Umbridge is the headmistress, and Voldemort rules the world. Yikes!
"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is a rollercoaster of emotions and twists that I think is super interesting. If you're a Harry Potter fan, you're definitely going to want to check this one out!
Reviewed on: February 25, 2024
The Harry Potter Series written by J.K. Rowling
I first read these books when I was five, and just reread them. It was like a whole new experience because I understand a lot more words now.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is a super magical adventure about a boy named Harry Potter who's a wizard and goes to this awesome school called Hogwarts. There are seven books, and each one covers a year of Harry's life at school. Along with his friends, Harry battles the super scary wizard Voldemort.
In the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Harry finds out he's a wizard and goes to Hogwarts for the first time. He learns that there's something super important being hidden at the school.
The second book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," is all about Harry's second year and a mysterious chamber in the school with a monster in it.
The third book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," gets intense with a prisoner escaping from Azkaban prison and coming after Harry.
In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth book, there's this huge contest called the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry has to compete even though he's too young.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth book, is about Harry's fifth year, where he finds out about the Order of the Phoenix, a group fighting Voldemort. Harry also has to deal with a really mean teacher, Dolores Umbridge, and ends up teaching defense spells to his friends in a secret club.
The sixth book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," is about Harry's sixth year, where he discovers a book owned by the mysterious Half-Blood Prince and learns about Horcruxes, which are part of Voldemort's soul. Harry decides he needs to destroy them to defeat Voldemort.
In the seventh book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," instead of going back to Hogwarts for his final year, Harry goes on a mission with his friends Ron and Hermione to destroy the remaining Horcruxes. It all leads to a massive battle at Hogwarts.
These books are seriously fun, and I think you should read them too!
Reviewed on: February 11, 2024
Wonka written by Sibeal Pounder
In "Wonka," we get to see how Willy Wonka starts his adventure to become a master of chocolate. This tale isn't just about following dreams; it also shines a light on how key friendship is. Dahl really nails it by mixing excitement with emotions, teaching us that hard work and kindness are what make Wonka's story shine. It made me happy and gave me hope, showing that the story is sweet and uplifting.
My family and I watched the "Wonka" movie because I was super eager to dive into Wonka's enchanting world. Even though my little sister felt a little scared here and there, we were all totally drawn in. The film brings Dahl's tale to life in a vivid way, giving us a glimpse into Wonka's chocolate kingdom like never before. Yes, some bits are different from the book, but both versions do an amazing job teaching us the importance of dreaming big, being friendly, and always trying your best. Going through Dahl's book and then watching it on the screen made me realize how awesome it is to dream and to never stop, making "Wonka" a truly magical journey for me.
Reviewed on: January 06, 2024
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
"Fish in a Tree" is a super inspiring story. It taught me that it's okay to be different and how everyone is smart in their own way.
It's about Ally, a sixth-grader who struggles with reading and writing because of dyslexia, but she's actually really smart.
This made me think about how people, like fish, have different strengths.
And I love Ally's new teacher, Mr. Daniels and Ally's friends, Keisha and Albert so much! They had their own issues, but they still wanted to help Ally.
I was so impressed by their continuous support.
After all, this world is beautiful because we are all different, which gives us room to help each other! Agree?
Reviewed on: January 05, 2024
Blended by Sharon M. Draper
"Blended" is about an 11-year-old girl, Isabella (My mom has the same English name!), who is dealing with her tough situations.
Living under divorced parents looked really hard to me. I could particularly related her feeling that she doesn't fit it in any race.
I am also in a unique situation where I identify myself as both American and Korean.
I think that anybody can be related to Isabella's family issue. It could be a financial issue, sickness, or anything in your family.
It's okay to be scared and confused in that situation. Even if you are not brave and can't get over it, I think that it's okay. Still we are all very important and precious individuals.
Just don't give up. One step at a time. If you are tired, let's take a break.
Just don't give up yourself!