Maniac Magee
Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli
Review by Willie, Shenandoah Co., VA
(12 years ols)
One day a maniac was born, to two parents who just died. He was homeless after he ran away from his aunt and uncle to a town where blacks and whites were divided. He met a girl named Amanda and they became good friends. The mother of Amanda asked Maniac to stay with them! Mars Bar is a person who eats a lot of candy bars. He is Maniac's enemy, in a way. When Maniac ran a way from Amanda he met the Mcnab's. They like beans.Maniac did everything for the Mcnab twins. Later, one of the Mcnab twins had a birthday party. About everybody that Maniac met went to the birthday party. Terror gained up a notch as the blacks and whites fought. I mean-throwing cinder blocks, physical fighting, stealing, and more. As the mother of Maniac, she wouldn't like it. So Maniac believed in his heart, and the east and west dividing line got erased. Everybody started being friends, and Maniac went back to Ashley live. In the end Amanda and Maniac got married ,and had a kid-Maniac Jr.
Escape From Warsaw
by Ian Serraillier
(Anonymous, VA)
One book I recently read was Escape from Warsaw, by Ian Serraillier. It is a historical fiction story that sets in Europe during world war two. The main characters are Edek, Ruth, Bronia, and Jan (He comes later in the story). The story starts when the Balicki family gets torn apart by Nazis. The mother gets kidnapped by Nazis to work in Germany, the father got sent to prison and the three Balicki children have to survive through hunger and danger in Warsaw, Poland. Later the Soviets attacked Warsaw kicked out the Nazis. That’s when their life gets easier. They later find Jan and found out where their father is. This is also the start of the journey to find their father in Switzerland. The journey is not easy and short, though. They have to face problems, hunger and to avoid getting sick. They even need to travel a 1,000 miles (with trucks helping them arrive faster). If you want to know more about the story and the ending, you would need to read the book. This is a good book because it’s interesting and makes you think what they will do next. I recommend this book to people who like adventure and historical fiction who are 9 years of age or older
Mary, Bloody Mary: A Young Royals Book
By Carolyn Meyer
(Review by Samantha, 14)
In 16th century England, Princess Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon, tells the story of how she was once an honored princess, then her father fell in love with young Anne Boleyn and stripped Mary and her mother of status, title, wealth, and honor in an effort to marry Anne. Though she is slapped, humiliated, and forced to become a servent in her own palace, Mary never loses hope that she will someday be queen. Even when Henry does marry Anne and produce a child, Mary still never gives up. This story is a wonderful tale of determination, suffering, and triumph that everyone will enjoy.
