Battle of the Books Reading Club 2013 -2014

Hero On A Bicycle n Author: Shirley Hughes By 3 A Aimee Li

Paolo Crivelli n n Thirteen-year-old Paolo Crivelli lives with his mother and elder sister in a large house in the hills surrounding Florence. He dreams of adventure and is determined to play his part in liberating the city from the Nazi occupation

Constanza (Paolo's elder sister) n n Constanza is Paolo’s sixteen-year-old sister. She, too, wants to play her part in the war effort. Being older, though, she has more of an understanding about the real danger of war. She likes to escape from the terrifying realities of the world around her by listening to music on her gramophone and looking through fashion magazines. Due to rationing, clothes and magazines are scarce. Chanel, for instance, has stopped producing scent, but continues to sell face powder, lipstick and soap.

Rosemary Crivelli (Paolo and Constanza’s English mother ) n n n She was born in England moved to Florence as a young woman when she married Franco, an Italian whom she met when he was visiting London before the WWII. Rosemary is worried about her mother, who is still living in London, and so is keen to learn as much about the war as possible. Information is hard to come by because of an aggressive Nazi propaganda campaign. However, Rosemary tries to listen to the British Overseas Service, British European Service and Voice of America as much as possible to keep up with the international news.

Maria (Crivellis' servant) n n She has been with the family a long time and is an important, and loved, member of the household. Her brother, Mario, owns a neighbouring farm. Guido is Paolo's beloved dog. Il Volpe (leader of the local Partisans ) n n Italian for "the Fox" The band of rebels fighting against the Nazi occupation in the hills around Florence.

Title: The History Keepers: The storm begins Author: Damian Dibben Publisher: Doubleday Type of book: Fiction/ Adventure No. of pages: 482 By 3 C Gigi li

Main Characters • Jake Djones – a fourteen-yearold boy whose parents went missing • Jupitus Cole – the man who kidnapped Jake and took him to a place in France • Prince Deltz – part of the royal family in France in the 19 th century and has plans to destroy the world

Main points in summary Background information: Jake Djones’ parents went missing for unknown reasons Jake was kidnapped by a group of people lead by Jupitus Cole who claims to be helping Jake is told the truth about what organization his parents worked for Jake is taken from London in the 20 th century to France in the 19 th century Jake discovers more about the disappearance of his parents Jake discovers the evil plan of Prince Zeldt to destroy the world Jake disguises himself to go to St. Mark’s Cathedral in order to get the information his parents got before losing contact with the organization, History Keepers It is believed that there is a spy in Point Zero, the headquarters of the History Keepers Jake finds his parents and continue with the mission The book ends with Jake and Nathan facing their enemy

Comments • The book was interesting and started in a compelling way. • Instead of having Jupitus talk Jake into joining them, they kidnap him, making an exciting scene to imagine. • The story developed in an unexpected way. • Jake was soon the last hope of the History Keepers.

Title: Wonder Author: R. J. Palacio Publisher: Tad Carpenter By 3 D Winky Wong

Summary This book is about a boy called Aggust, who was deformed. His face is the most scary face in the world, as the other kids described. But somehow, there was a chance for Auggust to go to school!He was scared, nervous, and curious about the school. Finally, he got throught all those stuffs with his courage and the support of his family. Although things weren’t so good at first, at last Auggust found his way to deal with his life and his friends, this is a book about brave and kindness.

Characters: Olivia: Auggust’s sister, who had a boyfriend called Justin. Auggust: the main character in the book, who was deformed and had a tough life at first, but finally got throught all difficulties and gained people respect. Summer: one of the best friends of Auggust in School. She was a cute and nice girl Jack Will: one of the best friends of Auggust in school

I have learned that. . . When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.

A Dog Called Homeless l Author: Sarah Lean By 3 A Venus Lok

summary l Cally's family is ripped apart at the seams when her mother dies unexpectedly in a car accident on her father's birthday. Her family was no longer allowed to speak of her mother around the house. Cally's heart breaks because if its avoid talking about her mother, she may soon be forgotten. She believes it's only in the happy memories her mom will be able to live on. Then something strange and unexpected happens, on the first anniversary of her death, when visiting her mother's grave with her family, Cally sees her mother wearing the red raincoat which wore on the day of the accident. A dog appears by her side, an extra large Irish Wolf Hound. Desperate, she tries to tell her father, but he doesn't want to hear her, no one believes. However, once she stops, she's fearful if she starts talking again her mother could disappear from her life forever. Somehow though, Cally is certain the dog has a special connection to her mother. For some reason she's positive he is key to making her family whole again. Her dilemma, the dog appears to belong to a bum and her dad not only despises bums, but he wants nothing to do with this big old dog! Will Cally every be able to change his mind?

Feeling l A Dog Called Homeless is the gentle and touching story of how one girl's friendship with a homeless dog can mend a family's heart. I think Cally is a troubled young girl who has just suffered the loss of her mother. Before her mother died, Cally loved to sing, her voice was powerful, it made her family proud. She's thoughtful and kind, not fear to speak her mind, but when no one wants to listen any more, she just stops talking altogether because "talking doesn't always make things happen, however much you want it to. However, Homeless appear can heal Cally's broke heart. Homeless has a unique connection with Cally and let her sing again.

Tom’s Midnight Garden By Winky Lo 2 C (26)

Basic Information • Title: Tom’s Midnight Garden • Author: Philippa Pearce • Publisher: Oxford University Press

Main Characters Tom: A boy that was sent to stay with his aunt and uncle for summer holiday and accidentally found a secret garden. Hatty: A girl that Tom met in the garden and only she see Tom. Finally Tom’s aunt told him Hatty was her past.

Summary Tom is sent to stay with his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen. When he hears the communal grandfather clock strangely strike 13, he gets up to investigate and discovers that the back door now opens on a large sunlit garden. There he meets another lonely child, a younger girl called Hatty, and they become inseparable playmates. Tom writes daily accounts to his brother Peter. Hatty catches up to Tom's age and passes him, she grows up at a faster rate, until she and another childhood friend of hers, Barty, are courting and the old garden tend to be in winter.

Summary On the final night before Tom is due to go home, he goes downstairs to find the garden is not there. The events Tom experienced were real in Hatty's past; he has stepped into them by going into the garden at the times she dreamt of them. Whilst taking Tom home, Aunt Gwen comments on the strange hug that Tom had given Mrs Bartholomew when he left- it was like he was hugging a little girl.

Style of book • Classical • Using Narrator’s position to tell the story. • With lovely picture • Don’t have difficult vocabulary → Easy to read • Full with conversation → interesting&fun

Main idea • Time runs short • Tell people TIME can not be violated • Let our childhood be the most important memory → become an adult.

Book Presentation The Grimm Legacy by Kristy Keung

Written by Polly Shulman

Book summary This book is mainly about a girl called Elizabeth who has just started working as a page at a library. And secret, too - for in basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting, and dangerous, magical adventure.

My feeling After reading this interesting book , I think this book is very interesting and it made me learn lots of things including that we should help others even we will not get anything back like Elizabeth help the poor woman on her way to her school. Also I would certainly recommend this book to others as this book got me seriously thinking about what I would use as a deposit if I ever got to check anything out of grimm colletion.

This book is suitable for? After reading this book, I thought this book is suitable for everyone. As for children, they can find that this book can help improve their English reading skill and as for adults they can remember their childhood. Therefore , I think this book is suitable for everyone.

Soldier Dog By WINNIE CHEUNG

Summary In Saigon during the waning days of the Vietnam War, a small-time journalist named John Converse thinks he'll find action - and profit - by getting involved in a big-time drug deal. But back in the States, things go horribly wrong for him. Dog Soldiers perfectly captures the underground mood of America in the 1970 s, when amateur drug dealers and hippies encountered profiteering cops and professional killers - and the price of survival was dangerously high.

FEELING I think the characters emerged as fairly threedimensional, well illustrated people. The last fifty pages or so consist of a freaked out, drug influenced shoot out that serves as a perfect climax. The most important accomplishment of Stone's work is his depiction of the American mindset during the violence-saturated Vietnam era. By the novels's ending, I understood why it received the National Book Award. The world (particularly the drug trade) has changed so much since then that there's not much actuality to it. Even then, it's a really cool zeitgeist novel about the counterculture. It's a very good book period.

The Map of Marvels Written by: David Calcutt

Background of the writer ¡ David Calcutt was born in Wednesbury in 1950. After teaching in a variety of schools during the 70's, he directed and wrote for several youth theatres, and became a full time writer in 1985. Since he has written numerous plays for the stage, youth theatres and community groups. Also, he had many plays broadcast by the BBC. He recently turned to writing novels for young people, and regularly publishes and performs his poetry for both children and adults. He runs a wide variety of workshops on writing, storytelling, poetry and drama. Now, he lives in Walsall in the West Midlands.

The summary of the book ¡ This book is talking about a boy called Connor. He was thinking a map of an imaginary world for his school project. He drew different shapes of islands and mountains. Also, he drew a tower on the middle of the map. However, the map existed because the presence of the tower. He entered the world which was created by himself! On the other hand, he met the characters who were imagined by himself and had their own stories to tell. They had a lot of adventures together and went to all the places where Connor created.

My thoughts ¡ I was impressed by the writer’s imagination. The story was attractive and full of unexpected plot. From reading this book, I know that David Calcutt is good at describing things or people in detail. He can write the characters vividly. I can really know the characters well under his description. Also, I have learnt a lot of new difficult adjectives.

The book is suitable for ? ¡ This book is suitable for adults and children. In form, it's a fairy tale for older children, with plenty of scary bits and extraordinary adventures. It leads the reader to question the difference between truth and fiction. I can see it capturing the imagination of thoughtful children aged 9 – 12 since the interesting and exciting plot. It aroused the readers curiosity and read the book eagerly until the end of the story. But to be honest it could be read with enjoyment by people of any age.

Wonder By Nicole Wong

Wonder By R. J Palacio

Summary • Wonder is a book about a fifth–grade boy named August(Auggie)Pullman who has Treacher-Collins syndrome, a rare craniofacial deformality. Due to August's surgical needs and emotional problems, he was home-schooled through the fourth –grade by his mother, who was a children's book illustrator. He finally accepts going to school because his Mom argued about it with his Dad. After awhile his Mom and Dad switch places of the argument, August visits the school named Beecher Prep before school starts, and meets three other people, Jack Will, Julian Albans, and Charlotte Cody, who take him on a tour through the school. August quickly realizes that Julian is an idiot and ignores him. After that, August quickly becomes friends with Jack and Charlotte. He then makes a new friend during lunch break named Summer Dawson. August sits with her during lunch and they name their lunch table the "Summer Only" lunch table. They become friends, and after a while, the school hosts a Halloween party in August's homeroom. He comes in a 'Bleeding Scream' costume. He walks into his classroom, and hears Jack talking to Julian. After hearing Jack say that he did not really like August, he runs out of the classroom and cries in the bathroom stall. He decides to quit school, but his older sister, Olivia (Via), forces him not to, though he delays it by pretending to have a stomachache. August tells Summer and there is a Egyptian science project coming up. Jack has noticed that August has become distant and quiet. Summer tells him 'Bleeding Scream', as a hint on why August is mad.

• Jack figures it out and apologizes. Later in the year, Daisy (August's dog) starts to feel sick. She dies later at the vet's office. August has to get hearing aids and then his school and many more go to a nature reserve park. They have to go to the bathroom but there is a long line so they go to the woods. There they meet a group of seventh graders that insult August. Amos, Miles and Henry come to the rescue and they are able to flee from the seventh graders. However, the hearing aids of August were stolen from him by one of the seventh graders. It is the end of the year and their principal, Mr. Tushman, begins to talk about how someone in this room accomplished something great. The principal then reveals that he is really talking about August Pullman, and August walks up to the stage and to receive his award. After all the students want to take a photo with him. Afterwards, Summer, Jack and their parents walk together to August's house for a party. August notices that his mom is hanging back from the crowd. He asks his mother what is wrong, and she then ends the book by saying, "You truly are a wonder. "

Main Character • • • August (Auggie) Pullman, a child deformed at birth who wants to be treated normally as a ten year old boy Jack Will, August's best friend who later is thought to betray him, but forgiven Summer Dawson, another of August's two best friends. Julian Albans, the main antagonist and August's worst enemy. Olivia (Via) Pullman, August's overprotective older sister who attends high school. Also has a boyfriend named justin. Via experienced the same thing when daisy died Miranda, Via's former best friend who starts acting cool and has no time for Via (Olivia) Justin, Via's boyfriend. He writes in all-lowercase, due to "the running monologue inside his head [having] no time for capital letters". Isabel and Nate Pullman, August and Via's parents. Daisy, their dog who later passes away. Bear, the new dog they get after Daisy passes away. Charlotte Cody, a good friend of august Mr. Lawrence Tushman, the principal of Beecher Prep.

Feeling I loved this book because it shows human nature at its best and its worst through its characters. August, a 10 year old boy, was born with a genetic issue that lead him to have a strong facial defect. Yes, he is a Quasimodo -like character. An “ugly person” with a good heart. But, we need to remember that these people do exist in the real world and not just in fiction. Through disabilities, deformations, tattered clothing, bumps, bruises, and scars. There is so much light in people, even though who have to face the most gruesome characteristics externally. We are more like these people, the Quasimodos and the Augusts, than we think!

You see his life from the perspective of his friends and family, allowing the reader to be engaged with their views. You experience how his life has affected them. Lives filled with discovery, struggles, turmoils, dreams, and reflections. You see (and emotionally connect to) their standpoint of August’s situation, their feelings, and hear their voice. The book is beautifully written. And, I usually do not say this. But, it was flawless. I think it could bring out empathy in anyone who reads it. And, even though I borrowed this from the library, I believe I may purchase it for my own personal and professional bookshelf. As a future school counselor, I already know that this book will be a great book to recommend to parents, students, teachers, and staff members I will be working with. It is very powerful and moving. Each character had their own voice and were well-written with strength and heart.

The END