Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Review by Paige
Tohru-kun meets the zodiac members. When you hug them they turn into an animal. She soon becomes friends with all the Zodiac members. My favorite character is Saki Hanajima/Arisa Votani because they are great friends with Tohru Honda and they went through lots of trouble in their life and Tohru helped them. I loved this series because it is amazing and has change.

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick
Review by Hannah
San Lee's father gets into trouble and insists on a specific lawyer, so San's adoptive family has to sell the most of their belongings and moved from Texas to Pennsylvania. he pretends to be a Zen Master in an attempt to fit in at his school and make friends. My favorite character is Woody Emily because she plays guitar and she's just really cool with being friends with San even though he isn't exactly that nice to her. I liked this book because it was really interesting and fun to read.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Review by Tori
A boy genius discovers fairies underground and steals their gold. My favorite character is Holy because she is amazing. I liked this book because it is entertaining.

Stotan by Christ Crutcher
Review by B-liz
Walker has to get through life. My favorite part is when Max kicks O'Brien. If you like life you'll like this book.

Book Bites Reviews

Paper Towns by John Green
Review by Tori
Quentin Jacobwen is graduating when his high school crush, Margo Roth Spiegelman runs away. My favorite character is Ben because he's funny. I liked this book because I like how Green writes dialogue.

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Review by Paige
After her love, Zeke, was tortured to death Allison is trying to kill Sarran who is the person who killed Zeke. She is going to meet a surprise. My favorite character is Allison, Kanine, Jackal, and Zeke. Allison is a strong character, Kanine because he is always calm, Jackal because he's funny and Zeke because he's kind and selfless. I loved this book because it si action packed and an emotional roller coaster.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Review by B-liz
Tris has to overcome Janine. Tobias & Tris hit a rough patch. My favorite character is Tobias because he is strong, courageous and smart. I loved this book because it was full of action.

Book Bites Reviews

The List by Siobhan Vivian
Review by Hannah
At Mount Washington High School, every year a list is posted with the prettiest and ugliest girls of each grade on it. The story follows each of the eight girls as they try to figure out what they think about the list. My favorite character is Margo, the prettiest senior, because at the end of her part of the story, when she realizes her homecoming queen tiara is plastic instead of metal like she thought, she realized that outward beauty is like plastic instead of metal.I loved this book because it really makes you think about outer and inner beauty, how you present your self, popularity , and I loved the cliffhanger endings at the end of each of the girls' stories.

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte
Review by Katelyn
Alfred is a high school drop out who is afraid of not being someone, so he signs up to be a boxer. Meanwhile, his best friend is thrown in jail and is being hunted down by major, a man that Alfred got on his bad side. My favorite character is James because I thought he was stupid for going to steal from the store, but got arrested and now he is beat up. I disliked and hated this book because it is boring and not something I want to read twice.

Numbers by Rachel Ward
Review by Paige
Jem is a 15 yr. old girl who when she looks into someone's eyes she sees there death date. She falls in love with Spider. She goes to a fair and everyone has the same number. They leave and it blows up and now the police are chasing them. My favorite character is Jem because she is a strong character. I liked this book because it has an amazing plot.

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
Review by Tori
This book is about a seven year old boy in a strange world. My favorite character is Lettie because she is strong. I loved this book because the writing was totally amazing.

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
Review by B-liz
A boy had to escape the Nazis. He survived 10 concentration camps. My favorite character is the boy because he is brave and strong. I loved this book because it makes my problems feel small.

Book Bites Reviews

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Review by Paige
Alison is searching for a rabid cure. She needs to find and save her sire because this guy is torturing him. My favorite character is Alison because she is a strong character and she's a vampire. I loved this book because it was sad and has supernaturals.

The Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Review by Tori
Flavia de Luce, a young chemist solves a mysterious murder. My favorite character is Dogger because his character has a calming effect. I loved this book because I can identify with the character.

Dead End In Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Review by Hannah
A boy named Jack gets "grounded for life" over summer vacation when he mows down their cornfields and accidentally fires his dad's firearm without permission. He starts helping an old woman write obituaries for the paper because she has arthritis. My favorite character is Miss Volker, the obituary writer because she's really funny and even though she's old, she acts fairly young. She also has a humorous attitude toward serious issues. When she wants things done they get done. I liked this book because I like the author's style of writing and I think the book is very funny.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Review by Katelyn
Graham Larkin, a famous actor, accidentally e-mailed Ellie O'Neil asking her to walk Wilbur, his pig. Then they spark up an internet relationship without his knowing her name. (I hope they fall in love.) I don't have a favorite character yet. I like this book because so far it has humor and romance.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Review by Tori
Pride and Prejudice is a romance/drama set in 19th century England. My favorite character is Elizabeth because she is head strong. I liked this book because it was dramatic.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Review by Paige
Allison Sekamato lives in The Fringe where vampires rule. She is an unregistered and has to fend for herself and her crew. Ali goes past the wall where the rabids are. She ends up getting attacked by rabids and dies. She turns into a vampire. My favorite character is Allison because she is strong and realized how life was when her mother died. I loved thsi book because of the way Julie Kagawa made the vampires very unique.

Stuck on Earth by David Klass
Review by Katelyn
I have too many opinions on this book to describe them. I disliked this book.

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
Review by Hannah
Jeffrey, Steven's little brother from "Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie," is a teenage boy in 8th grade and in remission. His brother Steven who he would normally ask for advice, has finally rebelled and gone to Africa. Jeffrey struggles through school, and worries about passing the state tests, while trying to help his friend Tad start to walk again. I loved this book because it takes a very good book to make me cry and the end of this one did.

Alice in the Country of Clover by Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Review by B-liz
Alice has to get used to a move. My favorite character is Boris because he is a cat. I liked this book because it is funny.

Book Bites Reviews

Alosha by Christopher Pike
Review by Paige
Ali is a normal 13 yr. old girl until she goes to the woods to stop the lumberjacks from cutting down trees, and she ends up running into trolls. She's earning powers!!! My favorite character is Farble because he is a troll who doesn't talk much. I like this book because it is supernatural.

Beastly by Alex Flinn
Review by Katelyn
Kyle's life is perfect and he was most likely going to be Homecoming King. Then one day a "weird ugly" girl is at school but no one knows who she is and he decides to play a trick on her and asks her to the dance. They decide to meet at the dance and then he brings someone else and she leaves. After the dance, she is in his room and it turns out she is a witch and then she turns him into a beast. He has to get a true loves kiss in two years in order to break the spell. My favorite character is Lindy. I loved this book.

Still Life by Louise Penny
Review by Tori
And artist is murdered. Who is the murderer? My favorite character is Clara because she is observant. I loved this book because I love the theme.

Bad Blood by Marianne Mancusi
Review by B-Liz
Sunny almost gets her boyfriend taken away. My favorite character is Rayne because she comes at the end and
kills the bad guy. I loved this book because it was action packed.

Girls That Growl by Marianne Mancusi
Review by B-Liz
Rayne has to join the cheerleading squad. My favorite character is Rayne because she is amazing. I loved this book.

Night School by Marianne Mancusi
Review by B-Liz
Sunny gets taken by fairies. My favorite character is

Rayne because she is a boss. I liked this book because it is funny.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Review by Tori
10 People are stuck on Indian Island and people are dying according to a nursery rhyme. I liked this book because it was mysterious.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Review by Paige
A boy who is hiding in the graveyard because a killer, Jack, is after him. My favorite character is Liza because she is a witch and is kind to Bod. I loved this book because it is about a boy growing up in a graveyard.

Flush by Carl Hiassen
Review by Hannah
Noah Underwood's dad sinks a casino boat in an attempt to stop the owner from dumping illegally, but he ends up in prison for a time. The Coral Queen, the boat, is back in business within days.


Other Titles Discussed
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

Book Bites Reviews

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Review by Tori
Eon is a girl pretending to be a boy. She struggles to become a dragon eye. My favorite character is Eon (real name Eona), because she is a strong character. I loved this book because it is very very nerve wracking.

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
Review by B-liz
A town has to survive huge beasts. They also have to live under a king. My favorite character is Mikasa because she is better than everyone. I liked this book because there is lots of battles.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Review by Paige
A boy who was named Nobody Owens when he came to the graveyard. Jack killed his family and now his family are ghosts. When he meets a girl named Scarlet who can oddly see him, he takes her around the graveyard. My favorite character is Nobody Owens because the ghosts gave him permission to enter the graveyard so he can go through walls. I liked this book because the writing is good and it is mysterious.

Alice in the Country of Clover by Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Review by B-liz
Alice gets expelled from Hearts and has to adjust to the new life. My favorite character is Boris because he is funny and cute. I loved this book because they are entertaining and well written.

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway
Review by Paige
A girl who is a peace corps person goes to West Africa to help the people. She is living with Monique, a person who handles childbirth. My favorite character is Monique because she has a strong character. I liked this book because it is about the life in West Africa.

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
Review by Destiny
Billy Miller falls off a two story balcony and is in the hospital. Then before 2nd grade, he thinks he is not smart enough. My favorite character is Sally.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Review by Tori
Harry discovers he is a wizard and goes off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My favorite character is Harry Potter because he's the main character. I loved this book because it was very enjoyable to read.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Review by Hannah
The world is under an attack from an advanced society of aliens. 16 year old Cassie Sullivan is one of Earth's last survivors, and the story follows her as she tries to eliminate the forces of those invading her planet. My favorite character is Cassie's brother Sam because Sam is very funny and adorable and he is also wise beyond his years. He is what keeps Cassie fighting when she feels like giving up.

Other Titles Discussed:
Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi
Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell
Maze Runner by James Dashner

Book Bites Reviews

These books were read and reviewed by the members of Book Bites, an informal book discussion group for grades 4-8. Call today to join us on Thursdays @ 4:30.

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
Review by Hannah
There is a 12 year old boy who was only given half of his name, in a kingdom where your name is your destiny. When he finds out he can spin gold, he trades it for food. However, whenever he trades, he can't tell what he will be given. The only thing he can ask before he makes a trade is, "What will you give me?" He has to accept whatever is offered. Then he mus travel through the kingdom and find his surviving relatives and find the rest of his name to unravel his curse.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Review by Tori
A beautiful romance between Kate and Heathcliff. I don't have a favorite character. I liked this book because it was entertaining.

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
Review by Paige
Cassie is in the Fifth Wave. Aliens are taking over the world disguised as humans. Cassie's mom has died from a virus the aliens put out. Now she only has her little brother Same and her dad to survive the Fifth Wave. My favorite character is Cassie because in other books the girls are very weak but in this book she is strong. I liked this book because it was unique because the aliens were different.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Review by B-liz
Beatrice has to choose a new faction to live in. My favorite character is Eric because he is cruel and mean and harsh. I loved this book because it is action packed.

Other Titles Discussed:
Virals by Kathy Reichs
Pure by Julianne Baggott