Emilie+L

** By: Suzanne Collins ** "Let the seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!"
 * // The Hunger Games //**

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is about a girl named Katness Everdeen who's sister was chosen to go into the Hunger Games. Katness couldn't see her sister die in the Games, so she volunteered to take her place. This story tells how the right friends can get you anywhere in life. Some of the friends that helped Katness are named Peeta, Gale, Cinna, Haymitch, Effie, Prim and Rue. The characters of The Hunger Games that helped Katness in the Games are Peeta, the boy tribute of district 12, Gale, Katness' best friend, Cinna, Katness' stylist in the games, Haymich and Effie, Katness and Peeta's mentors in the Hunger Games, Prim, Katness' little sister (she was picked for the Hunger Games before Katness volunteered), and Rue, Katness' ally in the hunger games.

The setting for the Hunger Games is mostly inside the arena, but some of it takes place in district twelve, the most poorly treated district in the ruins of North America. It is located in the Appalachian Mountains where the main industry is coal mining. Katness' father was killed inside one of the mines that was blown up in a mine accident. The town is small and very poor with little to no food. Most people in district twelve die of starvation, but the peacekeepers say people die of illness.

I would give this book a 5-star rating because of its great detail and the fact that I couldn't keep my mind off the book. I think the book's theme is that you can't get through anything without friends. The Hunger Games shows how much people need other people, which is the main reason that I gave the book a high rating.

I would recommend this book to people who like action and adventure books because of its settings. The parts that take place at the Games are so interesting and fun to read, making it easy to be drawn into the novel.

Emilie Leasure summer 2010

 Book review on __King of the Wind__

“Sham’s eyes were fixated on the track. He knew what it meant. Business! His business. Racing! He was ready to go!” __King of the Wind__ the story of the Godolphin Arabian is a fictional Newberry Medal Winner about loyalty between a boy and his horse. This book was written by Marguerite Henry who is also the author of __Justin Morgan had a Horse__ and __Misty of Chincoteague.__

Every chapter of this book emphasizes loyalty in a different setting between the Moroccan boy named Agba and the thoroughbred Sham. One example of this is when Sham was born his mother did and Agba kept him alive with goats milk and honey. A second example of loyalty is when sham was sold to mean traveler in Paris Agba followed him day and night living on apples and chocolate and sleeping in a horse stall. Finally when Agba, Sham, and Grimlikin, the cat, were in the Wicken Fen, Agba made sure that hi animals were safe and fed every day.

I liked Agba, the boy from Morocco, because he cared about Sham with all of his heart. He spent a lifetime following the horse through France, England, and the Atlas Mountains to keep Sham safe from ruthless owners. He did this with no money or shelter, nothing but Sham to keep him motivated. More people now should show more loyalty and respect to their pets as Agba did to Sham. I hope Michael Vick’s therapy helped him gain more respect and loyalty for dogs. I think he should read __King of the Wind__ to help in his recovery.

I would rate this book with a 4.5 star rating. I liked the fact that there were plenty of animals and I like animals. I have two cats, a kitten, two dogs, a fish, and a pony. I also enjoyed the settings taking places in different countries so I learned a lot about Morocco. In a way I relate to Agba because I take great care of my pets so I liked that about the book. I didn’t like the fact that the author made the horse change color throughout he book. At first Sham was chestnut, than light bay, than dark bay, than chestnut again. On the covers of the old and new books the picture of the horse on the cover is two different colors. I also didn’t like that the author didn’t make it clear at the end if Agba le Sham out of his stall or if sham broke out by himself. And that is why I gave this book a 4.5 star rating

__Leonardo DaVinci__ Anna Maria Brizo

 Leonardo The Artist. In this book it tells people the importance and the power of art. One of the worlds greatest artists in my perspective is Leonardo DaVinci. Sometimes you will find something in life that you think is amazingly important. That is art in Leonardo’s mind.

 This book in particular was a challenge to keep up with. But in all the writer did a great job. I feel like she really told what Leonardo was thinking in the captions and pictures found in his notebook. The biggest issue in this book which won’t bug most, is the fact that it was difficult to follow and understand completely.

 I would give this book a three and a half star rating. It was a very nice book. It was fun, interesting, and confusing book. I found myself drifting off into my little daydreams when I was reading unfortunately. I would recommend this book to adults who like this kind of art. If a young adult was amazingly interested, they might as well give it a try.

Book Review By: ~Emilie Leasure~ ~spring 2011~