Book Reviews by Kids - October 2008

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

When Nick Carraway moves into the West Egg community in New York, he doesn’t expect much excitement. However, he doesn’t realize that’s impossible when living next door to Jay Gatsby. After going to one of Gatsby’s many parties, Nick becomes friends with him. He soon realizes that Gatsby has for several years now been deep in love with one of Nick’s friends Daisy, who is already married to Tom Buchanan, another one Nick’s friends. Nick suddenly finds himself thrust into a plot full of romance, deceit, and excitement as Gatsby attempts to win Daisy over. 

This amazing book is extremely fun to read, and in addition is totally full of symbolism of all sorts making it even more enjoyable. Although it’s been around for nearly a century, Fitzgerald’s marvelous work still captivates readers today.

Reviewed by Dude Man - age 16

Deception (Lady Grace Mysteries)

by Jan Burchett

The book Deception is about one of the maids of honor to Queen Elizabeth herself, Grace Cavendish. But Grace is also the queen’s Lady Pursuivant. As the queen is fretting over the new currency that must be made for her country she sends Grace and all the other maids to the annual Frost Fair. But the maids, while there, soon find out something is amiss. A corpse had been found in a boat along the river Thames. That’s not the only conspicuous problem. Resting on the dead body’s eyes are two coins. But these coins aren’t just any coins; these are the very coins that the queen had been fretting over, the coins that hadn’t yet been released to the public. From here the problems just get worse. Grace soon realizes that these certain coins found on the head of the corpse are counterfeit. As a Lady Pursuivant Grace is responsible for solving the mystery and the queen has only given her five days. My favorite thing about this book is that it is not only intense it is also funny. I would definitely recommend it.  

Reviewed by Peach - Age 13

Buffalo Bill Wanted! (The Raven League)

by Alex Simmons and Bill McCay 

Some kids on the streets see a sign about Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. These kids are detectives that once worked with the great Sherlock Holmes. They go down there and Buffalo Bill lets them in. After the show there is a policeman who got knocked out, by him there is Buffalo Bill's gun that he couldn't find during the show. To help Buffalo Bill hese kids have to help find out who knocked the policeman out.

This book has a lot of adventure in it. Try and find out who did it. It might be a little tricky. You will enjoy this book a lot.

Reviewed by Sports Guy - Age 11

Fairy Realm #9: The Peskie Spell

by Emily Rodda

It’s about a girl named Jessie. She goes into the Fairy Realm. There are these green things called Peskies and they bother you. There’s only one way to get rid of them. It’s called the Peskie Spell. It doesn’t work at first but it does the second time they try it. I like the flowers that are called sky mirrors because whatever color the sky is that’s what color the flower is. It’s a good book and you should read it.

Reviewed by Dancing Flower - Age 6