Emma Dilemma, the Nanny, and the Best Horse Ever by Patricia Hermes

Emma Dilemma, the Nanny, and the Best Horse Ever by Patricia Hermes

I recently finished reading Emma Dilemma, the Nanny, and the Best Horse Ever, written by Patricia Hermes. Emma has a really big family- 1 sister, McClain, the best brother in the world, Tim, the twins, Ira and Lizzie, their nanny, Annie, and their parents. Emma has 2 ferrets- Marmaduke and Marshmallow.  McClain has a fluffy cat and the family has a poodle- Woof.
    Emma has a dilemma. The horse she loves so much, Rooney, is about to get sold! Marcus, who runs the barn, doesn't want him anymore because he is so old. But Emma loves  Rooney so much, she will have to find a way to stop Marcus from selling Rooney. She has to come up with a plan- and fast!
    She thinks of buying Rooney with her allowance money. She keeps it a secret. There is a kid named Oliver coming with his parents to check out Rooney. Another problem Emma has is that her best-best friend, Luisa is moving away. They are moving because her dad had lost his job, so they didn't have enough money to keep the house.
    This book teaches you that you don't always get what you want. But sometimes you do. I like Emma because she is caring. At soccer camp she helped Luisa and her partner, Katie, get the soccer ball that some boys took away from them. Emma is also generous. She gave Marshmallow to Luisa to keep forever, because, Luisa loves Marshmallow so much.                                                                                  
    I really love this book and I would recommend it to people who really love animals.


Review by Mayuri V. (grade 4)

Beezus and Ramona By Beverly Cleary

Beezus and Ramona By Beverly Cleary

 

I recently finished reading the book Beezus and Ramona By Beverly Cleary. 

The book is about Beatrice, a girl who's nickname is Beezus, as she struggles to control her little sister's annoying, but comical, behavior. Ramona is her little sister. Ramona, in one part of the book, loves a book about the littlest steam shovel, whose name is Scoopy. Tired of reading this book so much, Beezus takes Ramona to the library to choose a new book. But Ramona's choice is another book with a steam shovel! After putting up with the book for two weeks, it's finally time to return it. But when Ramona writes scribbles on every page of the book, that complicates things. If they return the book, without telling about the scribbles, Beezus will loose her library card. If Mrs. Quimby, their mother, pays for the book, Ramona will learn that when she breaks the rules she gets what she wants!! There seems to be no solution! How can they get themselves out of this mess!?!

I really like this book. If this were a news paper report, I'd give it 4 and one half stars. It would be five stars, but for some reason they don't connect the stories enough. They shouldn't call the different stories 'chapters'. They are more like separate stories, not one long story. They only even speak about previous chapters a few times, and they are hard to see unless you pay close attention.  You should read the book, and while you are, don't look for spots where they talk about other chapters. It would take up most of your time while reading. 

Review by R.J.M, Grade 5

The Sisters Grimm: Tales from the Hood by Michael Buckley

The Sister`s Grimm: Tales from the Hood  By Michael Buckly           

          

 The Sister`s Grimm 6 was a mixed genre book. It included Mystery, Fantasy and Adventure. This book was about 2 sisters who solve fairytale mysteries together. In this book their family friend the big bad wolf is on trial for killing Little Red Riding Hood`s Grandma. Red Riding Hood is hard to get information from because after the Big Bad Wolf attacked her Grandma she went crazy. But in the end, they find out what really happened. Overall, I thought it was an amazing piece of writing and I hope you enjoy it too.

Review by Alexa M. Grade 5

Stir It Up by Ramin Ganeshram

Stir It Up by Ramin Ganeshram

 

I recently finished reading a book called Stir It Up, by Ramin Ganeshram. I wanted to read this book because it is about a girl who has a passion for cooking, and I love to cook.  This story is about a 13 year-old Trinidadian-Indian girl named Anjali Krishnan who lives in Manhattan, New York. Trinidad is an island-country off the coast of Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean. She helps her dad and grandmother in their roti shop, Island Spice. Rotis are Indian flat bread made with whole wheat flour. Anjali's dream is to be a chef and have her own cooking show.  She finds out about a cooking contest called Super Chef Kids. Her cooking class teacher, Chef Nyla, encourages Anjali to do it. If she goes for the tryouts and wins, she gets her own cooking show!  The main characters in this novel are Anjali, her dad, grandmother, mom, cooking class teacher Chef Nyla and her friend Linc.
    Anjali finds out that the contest tryouts are on the same day as the Stuyvesant test, an important exam that her parents want her to take.  How do you think Anjali will manage if her parents say no to the contest? She might have a plan!  Anjali Krishnan is very serious about cooking. She really wants that show!
    This book is really interesting because it reminded me of the cooking show Chopped on Food Network.  I would recommend it for people who really love cooking. The book has some really cool Trinidadian-Indian recipes!!


Review by Mayuri V., Grade 4

Vanished By Sheela Chari

Vanished By Sheela Chari           

                Vanished was a mystery book about a girl named Neela. Neela plays an instrument from India called a Veena. One day her grandmother mysteriously sends Neela one of her Veenas. This particular one is very special because of its history. Neela is trying to get to the bottom of who keeps taking her Veena. She uncovers a lot more than that though. It was a very wonderful book that kept excitement flowing throughout. I hope you like it too.                

Review by Alexa M. Grade 5

The Sisters Grimm: The Everafter War by Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm: The Everafter War 

by Michael Buckley

               The Sister`s Grimm 7 was an extraordinary book. This one was about two sisters trying to help the good Everafters (fairytale people), fight the bad Everafters (The Scarlet Hand). The hideout where the girls and the good Everafters are staying has someone hiding amongst them who is a traitor. The girls also have to work hard to reveal the identity of the master of The Scarlet Hand. Toward the end of the story they come to a shocking conclusion. This story was a great one but, there is one thing I would change. That one thing is Biar Rose dying. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Review By Alexa M. Grade 5

Ivy and Bean: No News is Good News by Annie Barrows

 Ivy and Bean: No News is Good News by Annie Barrows

             

Ivy and Bean 8 was a realistic fiction book about 2 girls wanting wax from a cheese ball just like every other kid in their school. They need money because their parents won’t buy the cheese for them. Ivy and Bean decide to sell a newspaper about the street they live on, Pancake Court. Ivy and Bean couldn’t find any stories so they looked into people’s windows for help. When they delivered the newspaper to everyone who bought it, not everyone was happy. Overall, I thought Ivy and Bean 8 had a great beginning and middle, but not a solid end. The ending made it seem like Annie Barrows had a limit on pages. But that is just my opinion, so you might like it more.

 Review by Alexa M. Grade 5