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Kids Read It First! Book Reviews for Summer 2022!

We have some new reviews for Summer of 2022.
Thanks to all the kids participating in Kids Read it First!

Find out more about K̲i̲d̲s̲ ̲R̲e̲a̲d̲ ̲i̲t̲ ̲F̲i̲r̲s̲t̲!̲ [broken link removed]

Book: Elmer and the Talent Show, from Life in the Doghouse series

Authors: Danny Robertshaw & Ron Danta

Reviewed by Cookie, age 9

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed reading the book and I look forward to reading others in the series.
I liked that it was from the dog’s perspective.
I believe that this book is good for people looking for a book that isn’t’ too scary, and it was enjoyed by both my mom and me.

 

Book : New From Here 

Author Kelly Yang

Reviewed by Shreya Age 11

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

New from here is an AMAZING book.  I felt horrified when the man from the Grocery Store [pg. 302] covers his mouth and nose with his cap.  He didn’t do that around everyone else!  Martin Luther Kind once said “I have a dream that my 4 children will on day live in a nation where they will not be judged by color of skin but by the content of character.”  The ending of the book also made me very emotional.  Kelly Yang is an awesome author and her books are page-turners.  People who haven’t read her books are really missing out.

Book The Leopard Behind the Moon

By Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev

Reviewed by Ivisa Age 8

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

It was a good mix of sad, happy and exciting.  I think the dad should have reappeared somehow like: the kids killed the leopard and instead of the leopard, the dad was standing in front of them.  I also think the mom should have eaten the golden leaf.  Just that.  The rest of it was ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

Book: Hermit Hill

Author Mike Deas

Reviewed by Daniel age 12

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

This comic book tells a story about a boy called Sleeves who found small flying animals called Hivers.  They become friends, but Sleeves decides to lock them up  in a van to be able to play with them next week.  Because of it, plants are dying. 

I liked this book because it is full of action.  To know the end, you have to read it.

Rush Hour : Navigating our Global Traffic Jam,  by Erin Silver

Reviewed by Brett, age 8

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is making me so much confident in the future and how driving will be like. It will just help me so much and make me way more careful about using emissions like driving cars that produce gas, but you can help too by walking, cycling or using subways.
Surprisingly, they only use a little bit of gas which is incredibly surprising for a giant vehicle, so if you use one of these solutions don’t help not one of us, but all of us.
My favorite part is the self-driving car, it’s been tested but eventually maybe in the future it will get released.
My second favorite part is the talking car, I imagine what would it be like if one car just send it a signal to another car and that car sends another signal and it would help everything a lot, especially with traffic. So, for example, if there’s like a giant traffic jam up or head of them, one car could actually signal to another car that says to slow down because there’s a giant traffic jam in front of them.
My question is how did the author get the pictures from the future cars, like the talking car or the self-driving car. It’s technically impossible to get the pictures cause it’s in the future and you know we don’t have time travel.

I rate this book 10 out of 10.

 

Linked by Gordon Korman

Reviewed by Novi  

The book was a good book, however, I couldn’t spot any major or minor changes in the book (compared to the hard cover) so it was a good book but I am just unsure of why the ARC is necessary for the paperback.

⭐⭐⭐1/2

 

Horse Country #1 by Yamile Saied Mendez

Reviewed by Chaya

I liked the ending where Cara gives everyone a second chance because when she gives Loretta and Chelsie and even Velvet second chances they all become friends.  I also like when Vida joins unbridled dreams

Would you recommend this book?  Yes.

 

Wild Ride by Keith Calabrese

Reviewed by Maya

The book I read was called “WILD RIDE” and it was by KEITH CALABRESE. When 5 teens go on a little trip throughout their city, disaster strikes. A tech billionaire is planning to ruin their lives, and the parents are not around to save them. I liked that the book was action-packed and full of adventure, waiting for the next new thing to happen. I also liked that they used people around my age to use in the story so I could relate to them. The setting is a small town, full of teens and tech-loving folks. Since everyone is addicted to their devices, the tech billionaire had an easy way to destroy the earth – through their devices. One exciting incident is when the car gets stolen at the beginning of the book. It was action-packed when they discovered someone in the trunk of the Mustang. I would say the main character is Charley because she is the main focus out of the 5 teens. She is good at making plans, and never wants to miss out on the excitement. One minor character in the story is Michela. She comes in after the story has begun, but she pops in here and there. She becomes one of the main characters at the end of the book. Alton Peck is the villain because he is the tech billionaire planning to ruin the lives of the people in the town.

Would you recommend this book? YES!
 

The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall

 Reviewed by Anshu, age 8

I was walking in the library when I found a book with a cover which looked intriguing. I got it home and started reading. The book is about a brother and a sister who go on adventure to find out who is the keeper in their new neighborhood. The good thing about the story was that there was a lot of suspense. The first part was a little bit plain, but otherwise it kept me hooked.
It is very detailed and high level book. I am 8 years old and I found it easy to read. I didn’t understand few of the words though. The end part was very magical and enchanting. It is a very wonderful book. I thought the part where they say about secret tunnel was especially interesting.
Overall I think the book is great and suitable for grades 2 - 5. 

 

Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee

Reviewed by Aiden, age 13

This book itself was pretty good, but I think there should be more details because I think other people won’t know what hanja (한자) is. A couple of grammar mistakes, but nothing serious.  A suggestion is to put a page explaining what the Korean words mean, behind the pronunciation guide.  Great book and I am waiting for book 3 to come out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

 

Bumble and Bee: Don’t Worry Bee Happy by Ross Burach

Reviewed by Ana Victoria

This book is really funny and I really like it because it makes it really funny that Froggy is always really grumpy.

Would you recommend this book?  Yes.

 

Sitting Shiva by Erin Silver

Reviewed by Everlee, age 5

This book made me sad because the little girl lost her mother.  But I am glad she has so many people to take care of her.  It was interesting to find out about the tradition of “sitting Shiva” and I think it’s a very good tradition.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! by by Trudy Ludwig

Reviewed by Karissa, age 9

This book is interesting in the middle and beginning.  At the end it seems incomplete.  The elements in the books are funny too!  But I would also put more details about the other animals (giraffes).  The illustrating is really fun and connecting to the book.  But overall the characters and the understanding of it is really good.

⭐⭐⭐⭐