Grace

Wednesday Wars By Gary D. Schmidt //Review by Grace Chamberlain// Author Gary D. Schmidt took me on an adventure of devious plots and silent wars between Holling Hoodhood and his teacher Mrs. Baker. In the book **//__The Wednesday Wars__//**, Holling Hoodhood is going into the seventh grade and has a feeling his teacher, Mrs. Baker, doesn’t like him. On Wednesday afternoons, half of his class goes to Temple Beth-El and the other half goes to Saint Adelbert’s. He would usually be left in the room with two other boys, but they moved away, so it just leaves him. Mrs. Baker makes him clean or read Shakespeare. He thinks it is all part of her evil plot to destroy him. Later he finds himself in a tough position with home, school and outside activities. Mrs. Baker supports him and he eventually realizes that she was just a tough teacher trying to get her to teach her scholars. My opinion is that the plot developed throughout the book because, I feel, the characters and the story got better and better as the story went on. The characters became more developed as the story progressed. At the end of each chapter it made me want to continue to read to find out what else was in store. In this adventurous story, the setting is in Long Island, New York in the year 1967. The setting supports the story and makes it more exciting because if you put this story in another setting it wouldn’t make sense. The setting and the story have a connection with each other because together, they make the story whole. Without these two working together, the story wouldn’t make as much sense. The conflict in the story is that Holling has a gut feeling that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him. She’s always calling on him, giving him more difficult sentences to diagram and always rolling her eyes in his direction. The book taught me about how people can change. Holling learned that Mrs. Baker was actually nicer then he thought and on Wednesdays they became closer. Holling taught her a couple things and Mrs. Baker taught him a few things such as to be who you are and on how to run properly. The story also enforced that you can start as one person and blossom into a new one. I connected with Holling because he thrives for adventure (like the camping trip), cares for his sibling and enjoys reading, just like me. He was deeply interested with his reading assignments, Shakespeare, and loved to try something new. As soon as his sister got back from a tough trip, he became closer with her. I can really relate to some of these things about Holling. I feel almost all the characters continued to develope throughout the story. They were more deeply introduced and grew as a more mature person towards the end. Not only were there surprises in the book, but shocks and disappointments that kept me going. Most of the chapters made me want to read more and find out what happened or how he fixed it. I enjoyed this adventerous book and I think if you’re a reader you’ll definitely have a wonderful time reading this book.

Distant Waves By Suzanne Weyn Review by Grace Chamberlain

I never would have imagined having to move from place to place with only a mother and four other sisters to rely on. Author Suzanne Weyn made me feel as if I was a part of this bumpy journey in the year of 1898 in New York City. This story is about a mom and her five daughters who struggle without a dad and a mom with a low paying job with no stable home. As the five sisters get older, they want to move out, from where they currently are, fined jobs, fall in love, and start their lives on their own. Mimi found a new friend and fell in love with a man named Victor and decided to join the two and there crew on board of the Titanic, when Mimi’s youngest sister Blythe, 12 years old, joined Mimi on board. A significant part of the story is based on what happens when the other three sisters try to find them on board the Titanic when they get stuck there. My position of the story is that the plot was developing during the story because, I feel, the characters and the setting were more deeply developed throughout the novel. In the beginning of the book, it was a little tough to comprehend. It developed more throughout the book. This fascinating story took place in 1898 through 1914 in New York and on board the Titanic. The setting helped because if the five sisters hadn’t been in an apartment in New York, they would have had nowhere to run away to, which, in the story, played a big part. The problem in the book was, as soon as the girls got older, the sisters wanting to leave, but there mom wouldn’t let them. She didn’t want them exploring the world without her and she didn’t want to go far. They book taught me about how important family and life are. You need to explore life and take risks. I felt as if I was on the adventure with Jane and her sisters, through the struggles and the excitement for a new world. Not knowing what the author was setting out to do, I thought the book flowed and every little detail fit together at the end when you found out what had happened the night the Titanic sunk. Being a single mom with five daughters doesn’t sound so easy. Jane’s family has some disagreements and arguments half the time. On the other hand, they have very close relationships, having nowhere to go you must have someone to depend on. Jane and her older sister Mimi have a deep relationship. Amelie and Emma, being twins, have a tight relationship and Blythe and her Mom are pretty close. But when it comes down to a hard time, everybody was there for each. They are all strong as a family with their relationships. The characters definitely develop through the story. They all mature, but find their own paths to take. I could see myself more as a Jane than any other character because of her interesting personality and her love of adventure and writing. Some of the chapters ended with cliffhangers. There were a few surprises in the book, especially at the end of the book. Some of the time the dialogue wasn’t that believable, but when something you thought was about to happen, it turned around and gave you a better surprise. I enjoyed this book because of its surprises, turn a rounds, and romantic touch. The characters made it even more interesting with their disagreements and close bonds. I think that Maya Greenholt, Rachel Yackel and Alexandra Poteet would enjoy reading this book. I feel as if this book can be read by some 10 year olds and up. It is an appropriate book and I think anyone who reads this will enjoy this book.

__ Overboard __ // By Elizabeth Fama // // Written by Grace Chamberlain //

Emily has had a tough time, moving every two years. She currently lives in Indonesia, helping her parents in the hospital, but one day she decides she’s had enough and runs away. Emily has recently heard from her uncle and decides on her “run-away” she’ll stop by, maybe for good, but when her ferry starts to sink she struggles to get off and gets stuck. When she makes it out of the sunken ferry, she realizes she has nowhere to go and no one to help her. Author Elizabeth Fama made me feel as though I was a part of the cruel, harsh journey that Emily took. I’ve heard of many tragedies such as this one, but I felt like I was attached with the story. I wanted to read more after I finished every chapter. With Emily’s abilities and strengths I can imagine the faith she had to have and courage to keep trying and to help others. She put others first, then herself. In my opinion the plot was believable and enhanced the story. I think this because is it not only a believable story but based on a true report. It was very easy to concentrate on the story because almost every chapter ended with a surprise or shock that kept me interested. My mind never wandered off while I was reading the story, but it did wonder about the story and anticipate what might happen next. The conflict in the story was when the boat sunk, Emily and her friend, Isman, had to swim for miles to find some sort of land or a rescue boat. They struggled through friendship and rough seas to reach their point. The book taught me about how important trust is when you’re in a hard situation. The author definitely got her point across in the book, in my opinion. The characters did develop throughout the story but some of them stayed the same. Isman and Emily connected in the middle of the book. At first they didn’t always agree with each other on what to do, but they became best friends by the end of the book. I enjoyed the book because it had a lot of cliffhangers to keep my interest and the story showed me trust and friendship. I would give this book five stars because of its very intriguing and I would recommend it to all my friends. []

**Hunger Games** By Suzanne Collins  //Review By Grace Chamberlain//

Author Suzanne Collins pulled me away from the real world and took me into another. In the book **//The Hunger Games//** , fifteen year old, Katniss, tries to provide her family with food everyday. Her father died in a mine accident along with her best friends father. Gale, a young man and best friend, and Katniss hunt and trade for food almost everyday just to feed their family. The prepare their families and themselves for the Reaping Day. The Reaping Day is when one girl and one boy, 12 and older, are chosen to fight to the death and possibly win for their district. While Katniss is in District 12, on the Reaping Day her sister, Prim, is chosen for this job. Katniss willingly step's up to take her sisters spot while Peeta, the bakers son, is also chosen. On this treacherous journey, Peeta and Katniss must try to stay alive to win for their District.

The plot of the story may have been just a little bit forced in the beginning, but from then on it was believable and while it was developing throughout the story.It was very easy to follow because I could feel or understand how Katniss as feeling. At times my mind would wander, but it was always thinking about the characters and the story. I would always keep reading to find out what might happen next or if the plot would twist.

The story takes place in District 12. But most of the story really takes place in the Arena where the Hunger Games take place. In my opinion, the setting definitely helps create an image of what it might look like or even sound like. The setting plays an important role for the characters because the Arena, in this case, is where the Hunger Game contestants fight to the death of another. It also can help the reader understand what is happening and where. It could give them an image or sound to help them understand the setting better.

The conflict of the story was how Peeta and Katniss were going to stay alive during the Hunger Games. Katniss loved her family so much but knew they couldn’t survive without her providing for them like she always did. Prim wasn’t old enough to provide or go hunting. Gale had to help in order to keep Katniss’s family alive. By reading this book, I learned from Peeta and Katniss how to always have faith and be strong even when things don’t turned out the way you planned. In my point of view, the author definitely accomplished what she wanted to do. She found a very interested reader and she kept that reader engaged in the story. She also sent out a message, to never give up and to keep moving forward.

I enjoyed the Hunger Games because it was a thrilling fiction book. After almost every chapter I wanted to find out what would happen next or if the plot was going to twist. I know a lot of people who already read the book, but I would recommend it to almost all of my friends. This book is different from any other book I’ve ever read.

__**The Milton Hershey Book Review(s)**__ //Review by Grace Chamberlain//



Author’s Jane Sutcliffe, Charnan Simon and Michael D’Antonio took me on a journey back to the mid 1800’s, during the life a Milton Snavely Hershey. These three biographies described the amazing adventurous life of Milton Hershey. It starts out in September 13th, 1857 and ends with the very sad death on October 13th, 1945. It’s not about where you are now, it’s about where you can go, and that’s how Milton Hershey lived his life. Hershey said, //"The value of our good is not measured by what it does, but by the amount of good it does to the one concerned."// It’s about helping one another, not just ourselves and that is what Hershey did.

All three books took me away to the time of Milton Snavely Hershey. I believed I was there throughout his journey from nothing to begin with, to a life time supply of chocolate. He began working in a printing press and ended up in a small candy shop, where his big ideas began. In the three books, all three authors made Hershey’s life develop throughout the book(s). They took you step by step and showed you all the small details about Hershey and his big dreams. By taking his money and using it to start programs for those who needed it. This began his chocolate empire. “One piece of chocolate can change the world.”

The story of Milton begins in a small town, Derry Township, Pennsylvania. As soon as Hershey grew up, his father’s big dreams took him to six other schools in only four years. Hershey had learned to adapt to constant movement. Hershey had traveled all around Pennsylvania. He was never in one place for long. The setting helps support the biography facts and it provides the information that Hershey spent most of his life in Pennsylvania. It helps the readers understand where Hershey lived and the scenery that surrounded Hershey every day.  Hershey was a very down to earth person. He never gave up on his new candy/chocolate ideas and always kept a positive attitude. Hershey always thought of others before himself. After one idea didn’t work, he had another idea ready for action. His first job was at a printing press. His mother, Fanny Hershey, found him a job more suited for him, at Mr. Royer’s candy shop. He had a few other candy/chocolate shops until one day he started a factory, the only person in the whole world who made Milk Chocolate, at that time. The town around his factory, Derry Township began to grow. He began to name the streets and begin neighborhoods. This became known as Hershey, Pennsylvania. He built a park, a zoo and a golf course. All of his fame and success drew many visitors. This man started out small and ended up big, but he never changed. He still cared about others and always put his people first. Later in Hershey’s life, he had a lot of money to spare. He was always generous and never was conceited about his large amount of money. He began a school for kids with financial problems. This is a co-ed school and welcomes anybody. After you graduate Hershey school, the program gives you all the money you need to go the college. This was Hershey’s legacy. That is why I admire Milton Hershey.

I would recommend reading and learning about Hershey, because what he stared out with and what he ended up doing was phenomenal. I think if you like chocolate and you are curios how it’s made and who started milk chocolate.....read about Mr. Hershey.I enjoyed learning about Hershey because he taught me a lesson, try try again and NEVER GIVE UP! I learned a lot about character and pure love and passion fr something. If you have enough passion for something as much as Hershey did, strive for it and go full steam ahead. “Milton S. Hershey, Life of Wealth, Empire, And Utopian Dreams.”

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