Uncle Tom's Cabin

A smile crossed the child's face. "Love, hope, kindness, joy." Then she was dead. The servants mourned and cried. "We's a gonna miss Missis Eva. She got a good heart. She did what she was jis' made to do. She done be better than any other child," Mammy said softly. Tom nodded. "She's a gone. We's neve' gonna see her 'gain...." Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of my favorite books of all times. Written before the Civil War, it has become a classic for young and old. The main character Uncle Tom is sold over and over.  As this story is nearing it's end, he is sold to a little girl named Eva, who has her father buy him. Uncle Tom is a good friend of Eva's, till the little girl dies. I enjoyed this story, but it was sad when Eva dies. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this story well, and I hope to read more of her stories if she has written any more. 

Leprechaun in Late Winter

A magic Irish pipe, fairies called the Shee, a leprachaun, a young girl named Augusta taken by fairies; The Magic Tree House is a wonderful series written by Mary Pope Osborne. My favorite book of this numerous series (43 books to be exact), is Dolphins at Dawn.  I enjoyed it because there are dolphins and lots of things about the sea. In this book though, the two children in the series (Jack and Annie), go to old Ireland. A young girl named Augusta has many talents. She tells stories well, and can repeat a story from memory. When Jack and Annie come, Augusta thinks of them as poor, helpless children, because she is so rich. They look really dirty and they are dripping wet. Augusta visits poor children everyday helping them. Jack gets fed up, and says she is snobby. Augusta gets angry. But when Jack and Annie play their magic Irish pipe, Augusta gets taken away. When they come to get Augusta, she doesn't want to come. I think that was foolish because she could do so much for other people. Well, she does go home, and she shares the oldest Irish stories and language, making sure they aren't forgotten. I think that this story was very interesting. I enjoyed learning about Augusta in the history notes, in the back of the book. I hope to read the newest Magic Tree House book very soon.

Spy on the Home Front

Leaflets hidden in Aunt Eleanor's plane! Max going to jail! Clues that Dave might be the culprit! Molly is excited about spending her summer at her grandma and grandpa's farm, but when Molly's friends, the Schulz's, get a letter from their friends, it has some bad news: The Schulz's friends are in jail! Molly knows that is because they are German-Americans. Could it be possible that Anna and her family will go to jail too, for being German-Americans? Molly's Aunt Eleanor comes home, about two days later, to add to the excitement. Molly goes with Aunt Eleanor to the airport where mysterious leaflets are found in Aunt Eleanor's plane. Molly is determined to find out who is doing all the bad things that come up in the next few days. Molly and Anna find out it is Mr. Kip, the manager at the airport. Anna's brother, Max, was being accused of being a silver shirt. When Molly and Anna find out about Mr. Kip, they are shocked! Molly is glad when the mystery is over. Now a few more fun, cool, peaceful, summer weeks at her grandparents farm with Anna lie ahead of them.

Kaya and Lone Dog

"Kaya and Lone Dog" is one of my favorite American Girls books. Kaya is a Nez Perce girl. The Nez Perce were a group of Native American people who lived during 1864. In their beliefs, you would earn a wyakin. You would have a vision quest, in which you learned what animal you were most like. The Nez Perce had great fears, just like any other tribe. The Salish people, who's men had pale faces, brought sickness when they traded and were with the Nez Perce. Many people died, some were lucky. Kaya, in this book, befriends a lone dog (that's why the dog's name is Lone Dog); the dog has pups that she lets Kaya have. Then the mother leaves. Kaya is sad, but makes up for it, with the biggest of the pups. Kaya names the dog Tatlo. Kaya is very happy, and so is Lone Dog.

Raggedy Ann and Andy

Raggedy Ann and Andy are two stuffed rag dolls. They are kind hearted and cute. Pop has all of the chapter books. I have read them all. Each have delightful tales in them, of Raggedy Ann, Andy and friends. It was very interesting to read them. All the time, someone needs help. Sometimes people are just miserable. Sometimes people are causing trouble. It was interesting to realize what the situation was, and why it happened. So many fun things fill up this book, with a dash of humor. I have made up a poem about them. Here it is:

Those small little dolls who are sweet and kind,

            Raggedy Ann and Andy! 

Those friends who have good thoughts in their mind.

Raggedy Ann and Andy! 

The dolls who have something to wish on.

  Raggedy Ann and Andy! 

Those two good friends who met a fawn. 

Raggedy Ann and Andy!

          Those people who taught you of friendship and love

Raggedy Ann and Andy! 

Wonder Writers Awards Ceremony

On Sunday there was a Wonder Writers ceremony. I wrote an essay for Wonder Writers, and it was published. I didn't win, and I am disappointed. I really would have liked to win. It  doesn't matter, but it would have been nice. Even though I didn't win a reward, I am truly grateful to them for publishing my essay. I hope to win someday in the future. I will enter these contests more and more, hoping to be published again.

Pet Expo

Last Saturday, was a Pet Expo! Nana has got a new job, working at the company that sets up the Pet Expo. There are animals everywhere! On Saturday, we headed out and saw all the animals! It was wonderful, but we discovered Noel is allergic to rats! So we couldn't buy a rat. But we could buy something else! We could buy a mouse?! It doesn't really matter if we get a pet or not. The Pet Expo was great . There was a medieval horse show. It was cool. On the way out we got cotton candy. I ate my whole piece! I wrote on the way home about the Pet Expo. Here is my article:

Ruff! Ruff! Today is the Pet Expo! Everyone was excited as they headed through the gates. Nana works here, so they go see her first. After that they saw a medieval horse show. Just as they walked out,  they saw Stewart and Aneta, part of the family. They explored for a bit, seeing dogs and cats, then met up with Nana and had lunch with her. Quickly the group of eight hurried to a horse show. This show had Arabian horses only. After the show, the family explored more. Finally they left, buying cotton candy along the way out.

Rainbow Fairies

Dear Readers, this a review of a bunch of books. When I started to read them, it was because I had been looking for horse books. One of these Rainbow Fairy books caught my eye, and I stopped. I picked it up. It was the first book in all of them. As I went to the library I looked for more Rainbow Fairies. Last Friday I got a whole set of the series, there are several sets in the series. My favorite series is The Sports Fairies. This set of stories are about two girls, Kirsty and Rachel. The two girls have to get the magic tool (like for tennis, the racket), and give it to the fairy. This series is wonderful and I hope to read more of the books.

The Adventures of Mark Twain and "The Big Read"

Last Saturday, we put on our shoes and headed out for a Tom Sawyer event at the library. I have an abridged copy of the book, so I knew about most everything in the book. When we went to the Tom Sawyer event, there were a lot of things to do! You could play games. You could get a pinwheel and all sorts of stuff there! We decorated our own spinning top. We got balloon creations (I got a banjo), and had lots of fun. One of the things we did, was color part of a picket fence. It is going to be put up in the library. There are going to be more Tom Sawyer events. Today there is one! We will have so much fun learning about Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain.

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is a wonderful story. Very sad, it takes place during the same time period as Sounder. This story is about a girl named Cassie, a black girl. The story is about her hardships, her joy, and her special moments. She is pushed around by a girl named Lillian Jean. Lillian Jean will force Cassie to walk in the street for bumping into Lillian, because she was distracted. Cassie later makes friends with Lillian Jean. Cassie has two brothers. She has a sharp teacher. Cassie has a life that is hard, but she makes the best out of it.

Sounder

"There ain't no dog like Sounder" is what the little boy said. Slavery is over, but the boy's family works for a man owning land. Sounder belongs to the boy's family, helping hunt. He goes out to hunt possum, 'coons, deer, and all kinds of food. The family has a farm, though Sounder will wander around a lot. This little boy goes through tough times. His father is taken to jail and comes back. Soon the father dies, as well as Sounder. Sounder and the boy's father were an important part of the family. Now that they're gone, it's the boy that helps out a lot. Sounder and the boy's father are gone, but their presence remains in the family's small cabin.

Shadows in the Glass House

What would it be like to have a friend who's in danger? What would it be like to be kidnapped? Would I like to have a bottle with my initials on it? All these questions came to me when I read this intriguing mystery book. A young girl has a mystery to solve... ONE THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH SAVING HER FRIENDS LIFE! The girl's name is Marie. She was kidnapped and taken to the New World. A young man by the name of Angelo Lupo was kidnapped too. He was going to make glass. He was a glassmaker. He was making a formula for cristallo. Marie finds out that Angelo is in trouble. What is a girl to do? In this amazing story Marie saves the day. I enjoyed this book greatly.

Strawberry Girl

How would you like to be a little girl who grows up on a strawberry farm? Would you like to help make wax flowers or to have a new hat from a fancy hat shop? Well, in this story, a little girl, who's nickname is Birdie, gets to have a hat, make wax flowers, and be a "strawberry girl". While all of this seems great, life isn't all happiness. Birdie has moved into a new home, in Florida. She and her family have to get to know their neighbors. The neighbors are nice, except Mr. Slater. As the story goes on, the family makes friends with everyone - maybe even Mr. Slater- and enjoys living in Florida. I think being a strawberry girl would have been really cool because you get to be in the field and pick fruit.

Writing for the fun of it...

Today I got an exciting comment regarding Bats at the Beach, from the writer! It was exciting for me. I enjoy his book. All the details and drawings, every single line in this amazing poem book. Also, I got news from Wonder Writers- a writing group for youth, that held a competition- that my essay I did for them is going to be published in their upcoming book. I enjoy the surprises in life, and these two surprises I got today mean so much to me. That's how I like it, life full of surprises. Life full of writing. Writing for the fun of it...

Under Copp's Hill

This is a story I enjoyed because it is mysterious and is very exciting. I think that the writer was very creative! I enjoy the suspense and clues, spun into a heart- pounding mystery! How many tales will do this? Some do, some do not- especially picture books- but some are very wonderful! Many mysteries like this I would love to devour. Also, good poem books warm my heart. But what really sets me off like a firecracker is a good old mystery! So many people enjoy them. When I read I can go anywhere, and when I read this book, I was in the dark, dank graveyard; under Copp's Hill. When you read you let your imagination go anywhere!