The House of Hades

By Rick Riordan

Hey, bookworms! Welcome to book review number two in my Percy Jackson book reviews series! I chose the House of Hades because it’s an incredible book that shows grief and guilt in a genuine way children, ( and adults!) can understand.

Leo Valdez is a member of the 7 demigods who is trying to stop Gaea and save the world! But when Percy and Annabeth, two of the most valuable members of the team fall into Tartarus, the group begins dealing with a lot of issues. They have only a few days to reach the Doors of Death in time to save Annabeth and Percy and stop the monsters from coming back from the dead. As a son of Hephaestus, Leo thinks he is the most worthless of the group. He believes he is the reason Percy and Annabeth fell into Tartarus. How can he redeem himself from a mistake this big? Can this son of Hephaestus realize his true worth before they reach the doors of death? Or will his idea of his own self-worth be his downfall?

Rick Riordan tells this story from the points of view of all 7 demigods to show how each one of them reacted to this terrible event that occurred. Each one is battling their own inner battle, and each one is facing their own guilt. With all these battles occurring inside each warrior, can they truly band together to save the world?

The Mark of Athena

By Rick Riordan

Hey, bookworms! How many of you read these books by Rick Riordan in middle school? It’s almost like a tradition for us! I have loved this book series since the day I started reading it and as a tribute to the new Percy Jackson T.V series coming out, I am going to try and write reviews on my favorite Percy Jacksons!

“Wisdoms daughter walks alone, the mark of Athena burns through Rome. Twins snuff out the angel’s breath, who holds the key to an endless death. Giants bane stands gold and pale, won through pain from a woven jail.” Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena was tasked with this quest. Collect 6 other demigods to save the world and avenge her mother. She goes out on a mission of peace to Rome but it ends in bloodshed. She tries to succeed in her quests, but the Ancient Greek gods are cruel. When the 7 demigods begin to crumble, can this daughter of Athena hold them together?

this book mainly centers around the idea that our pasts don’t define us. What we did can give us grief or guilt, but we need to learn to move on from the mistakes of our pasts. We will never forget some of the things we did, but as long as we are trying hard to fix our mistakes, we are fixing them.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie

By Erin Downing

Hey, bookworms! It’s been a while since my last post, so I’ll try to post more on my blog! So, this book really tackles issues in a family, and I hope if you read this, you will love it as much as I do!

This book is about three kids, Herb, Lucy, and Freddy Peach. Still reeling from the death of their mother, the Peach family is more fractured than ever. Their father, in an attempt to bring his family back together, buys a food truck so that he and his family can go around the states selling pies! But when their new adventure starts to go wrong, can this family pull themselves back together? Or will this trip be the final hit to shatter this already fractured family?

I think Erin Downing is trying to show us some important lessons about family. Your family will always be a part of you, despite what you may wish. And families are worth extra effort because even if you’re fighting, you’re still flesh and blood. Families are different. Some quirky, some fun, some strange, some happy! Not everyone is the same. Otherwise, we would live in a very boring world.

War Stories

By Gordon Korman

Hey, bookworms! I know you have probably heard of the war in Ukraine and Russia. You are probably as tired of it as I am, but we need to talk about this. When wars are fought, people think surface level. Some side with Russia, others Ukraine. Yet, one thing is the same with almost all of us. We don’t understand. We are not Russians, and we are not Ukrainians. We are people from different countries siding with other countries without fully understanding. How many of you have watched the Incredibles 2? This is a quote I found especially interesting. “People don’t see the fight or what led up to it. They see what politicians tell them to see. They see destruction and they see you.”. This might be what Winston Deavor said to Mr.Incredibele, but it still has the same hold for what’s going on. People don’t see what was going on in Ukraine and Russia. They see a sudden, completely uncalled-for attack. WAR STORIES might have been written before this war, but I think it still has the same message. Gordon Korman is trying to tell us to look past perceptions and mirrors into the face of the truth.

Trevor Firestone is the average American boy. Video game obsessed. War obsessed. To him, war is a game. There are no consequences. War is just war to him. His grandfather being a war hero is of no help to his obsession. Yet, when his grandfather is invited on a tour of France before an award ceremony where he is being awarded a medal for his saving of a small French village, a group begins threatening them online and Trevor is forced to face the truth of war.

A powerful read that left me reeling by the end of it, Gordon Korman truly captured the essence of a good story. His book is trying to tell us that when we choose ignorance, we choose our paths. Trevor was forced to face the truth of war the hard way because he refused to see the truth right in front of him. This story draws you in and forces you to understand the power of perception and the strength of the truth.

Linked

By Gordon Korman

All us bookworms were different then other people. We love to read! Yet, in this century, Phones, Movies, and TikTok are all people talk about. It is disappointing, children of this age. But the kids in this book are just, amazing. Gordon Korman forced us to open our minds and our eyes to the reality around us. Religion is a part of who a lot of people are. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and more! Sadly, some people cannot accept that fact. Mr. Korman is trying to show us that everyone is equal. And that is what makes this book special.

Link is the popular guy. Funny, nice, and a total sports guy, he is one of the most popular guys in the school! Yet, when a Swastika is painted on the wall of their school, Link just does not know what to do. Michael is the head of the art club. He loves his art but hates how people ignore him and the club until they need them. But when Michael is the first one to see the Swastika, he is the prime suspect. How can this art guy clear his name? Dana is the only Jewish girl in their entire town. She is already the strange new girl at her school. And when the Swastika appears, it just worsens. How can this middle-school girl deal with someone publicly mocking her religion?

Everyone should have the right to worship their religion without mockery or disgust. Gordon Korman, dived deep into the topic of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hate, in his new book. In a perfect world, everyone would get along and religion and religious standing would be accepted and respected. But this is not a perfect world. This is OUR world. And we are the change. We choose how this ends. Acceptance? Or hate? What do you choose?

Millionaires for the Month

By Stacy McAnulty

When we were in school, their always was that joker who loved to tease us bookworms for our love of reading! Their always was that annoying person who almost made us blow our tops when they insult our favorite books.I have long disliked such people, but reading this book made me think maybe their was more to their story.I loved how this book made me think in more than just one perspective. It opened my eyes. I will never love these characters, but I will love this story! Stacy McAnulty is trying to show us everyone has a story. Circumstances that shaped them. Not everything is as it seems.

Benji Porter was always the popular kid. Rich, funny and daring, everyone adored him.Yet, behind that plastic smile was pain. He never seemed good enough for his father, a stubborn, rich businessmen. He always was the disappointment. Felix Rannells was the golden child. Quiet, smart,thoughtful and kind, he always had to work for what he got. He never knew his father, and his mother and sister worked very hard to support their family. Felix never knew a privileged life and never took anything for granted. But when on a field trip, the two boys least likely to get along partnered up. However, when they find a billionaires wallet, their whole lives change.When they return the money to the owner, Laura Friendly, she gives them a challenge.Sadly, when this challenge starts too feel impossible, will these two boys fall victim to their own lives?

Stacy McAnulty aspired to show how families can shape us. We are always a part of our families, no matter how far we try to get away. We will always be the same flesh and blood. But we will not always share the same heart. Families are different, but each and every one is special.

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year

By Nina Hamza

Hey, bookworms! Have you ever met somebody who loves words but not books? To us, they are human paradoxes! But the more we think about it the more it makes sense. I loved this book because at first, there was no clear meaning, but the deeper you delve into it, you finally see. Nina Hamza hoped to show how fractured things can become between people who once seemed as close as family. Mrs. Hamza hoped to expose the other aspect of our perfect society, and how even the closest of places have secrets.

Ahmed is quite sure this is one of the worst years of his life so far. Not only is his dad in ICU(Intensive Care Units), he and his family are moving to Minnesota. Being forced to move from his happy home of Hawaii, he moves to Minnesota. Once there, he meets family he never knew existed and begins to feel like home- until a bully ruins everything. Jack Hanson. When Jack begins his reign of terror, Add that to having to READ in Language arts and his dad in the hospital? Does no one care?

I was a little disappointed at the beginning when Mrs. Hamza seemed to paint Jack as a heartless villain. But as you go farther through the book, you finally discover Jack. I think that Nina Hamza is trying to paint a picture. No one is one thing. we all have secrets, reasons that make us who we are. We are products of our circumstances and our choices. Everyone is more than one thing. We are multilayered. But when one seems to be dealt all the bad hands in the luck of life, it shapes you, and you become the villain of another’s story.

Keeper of Lost Cities

By Shannon Messenger

We are all different in some way. Bookworms especially. When others chatter about the newest dance on Tik-Tok or the newest movies, we discuss our new favorite books and trade fan-fictions. This book, however, deserves recognition! I loved how this book zoned in on how even something that looks perfect, can be rotten on the inside. In this dystopian realm, those who are born with special abilities are given better chances in life than those who are not. Shannon Messenger explored the realm of injustice, strength, beauty and hate. This book is a true page-turner!

Sophie Foster is special. 12 years old, she was already offered a Yale scholarship, top in her school, and friendless. Lonely. Different. Except after a field trip gone wrong, she realizes just how different and special she is. After meeting Fitz, he shows her who she truly is. Yet when darkness threatens to destroy the new home she has created for herself, will she lose her life to the only people she has ever trusted? Or will this tween genius make it out?

Full of hope and heartwarming family mishaps, and friendship troubles, this book endeavors to expose the flaws of our society and that not everything is as it seems at first glance. People are layered. There is always something hiding beneath the surface.

Book Trivia

By Sara Aziz

Hey book-lovers! Ready for a trivia? Test your friends and see how knowledgeable they really are with books! Have fun with this children’s trivia!

Question #1

In “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” Who did Edmund first see when he came to Narnia?

A: Mr. Tumnus

B: The Beavers

C: The White Witch

Question #2

In ” Esperanza Rising” Where does she move after leaving Mexico?

A: Egypt

B: Calafornia

C: Minnesota

Question #3

In ” Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone” What was Snape’s defense for the Sorcerers Stone?

A: You must make a incredibly complicated potion

B: You must solve a very complex logic puzzle

C: You must defeat a terrible curse

Question #4

In “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, What color eyes does Annabeth have?

A: Gray eyes

B: Bright blue with flecks of silver

C: Green eyes

Question #5

Who wrote the book “Romeo and Juliet” ?

A:William Shaspeare

B: Charles Dickinson

C:Agatha Christie

If you got all five correct, you go bookworm! If you did not, keep on reading!

Answer Key

1=C

2=B

3=B

4=A

5=A

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

By Chris Grabentein

How many of us bookworms hate those book-haters at our school’s, and workplaces? Try to talk to them about books, and they have no clue! “Why read books when there are movies?”, they say. Well, this is a book about a boy like that, who learns the power of books!

Kyle Keeley is the average middle school boy. He dislikes reading, gets B’s and C’s and loves games! But when famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello opens the brand new library in their town of Alexandriaville, Ohio, Kyle cannot wait! When he wins a coveted spot among the lucky twelve first allowed in the library lock in, The twelve lucky kids have a blast! But when morning comes and the doors to the library are still locked It will take all these kids wit and smarts to break out of this high-tech library!

In this favorite by Chris Grabenstein, we learn of the value of friendship, teamwork, but most of all……..BOOKS!