The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The Call of the Wild is a phenomenal book by Jack London. I believe that it is one of my top ten books-to-read . Once I started to read I couldn't stop. In this book you will truly understand the call of the wild.

Buck, a St. Bernard cross Scotch shepherd dog, was the ruler at the sun-kissed Judge Miller's place. He was living a happy life until one of the gardeners kidnapped Buck for money. People all over the world wanted gold which was found up north and they needed dogs to travel. They needed dogs who have strong muscles and long, warm coats. At first Buck did not understand what was happening. He growled at strangers. One day he was let out of his cage only to find himself face to face with a man with a club. Little did Buck know that he was in for a beating, to keep him under control. After the beating, Buck's body was broken, but his soul was not. Buck was sold to strange men for their use on a dog sled team. They wanted strong dogs with long fur to pull a sled all the way up to Alaska for the gold rush. Buck soon learns the life and law of the wild. There will be a surprising ending that awaits you!

There is also another book called White Fang by Jack London. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Call of the Wild.

Jingmei Z.

E. S. Rhodes

The Midnight Fox by Betsy Byars

This book talks about a boy that goes to a farm for the whole summer. The name of the main character is Tom. Tom sacrifices his summer so his mom can go on a bike ride through New York. The average ten year old wouldn’t spend their summer on a farm but he was generous enough to sacrifice. During his time on the farm he encountered a black fox, then after that, his days on the farm were never the same. Every day he would go to see the fox but one night he saw something that was very rare, it was a baby fox. Because foxes are so smart humans hardly ever get to see any cubs, because the black fox had a cub she had to kill twice as much, but killing bigger prey just got her into trouble. The black fox killed a chicken that was owned by Tom’s aunt so his uncle set out to find the fox and kill her. You have to read the book to find out what happen to the black fox and her cub.

Ricardo F.

Woodridge Elementary School

Warriors Sign of the Moon by Erin Hunter

Warriors Sign of the Moon is about the powerful three (Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing) trying to find a way to stop the evil dark forest. The whole plot of this part of the warriors series is that the dead cats in the dark forest want to train living cats to destroy all good cats (both living and dead). Jayfeather receives a desperate plea for help from the tribe of rushing water. Jayfeather sets off, leaving Lionblaze and Dovewing to protect Thunderclan. Jayfeather finds a secret that connects Thunderclan and Tribe of Rushing Water in both the past and the future. What is it? You'll have to find your inner cat to find out. Word of wisdom though, read all the other books before this one. It will help you understand the book better.

Look at the Warriors website for more of the Warrior cats adventures.

Ayo G.

Grade 6

E.S Rhodes

Poppy by Avi

Poppy is a tiny deer mouse. She lives with a huge deer mouse family. The problem? They’re running out of food. Mr. Ocax, the great horned owl, and ruler of the Dimwood Region, demands permission for any movement the mice wish to do. He is also the protector of them. Lungwort, the father of Poppy and the rest of the mice family, prepares a speech for a movement to go to a place called New House where there is plenty of food. When he gives his speech to Ocax, Ocax denies halfway through. So, Poppy and Lungwort are confused. Why wouldn’t Mr. Ocax let them move to New House? Is there something there that Mr. Ocax doesn’t want them to know about? Well, Poppy doesn’t take no for an answer. She wants to find out, so she prepares to walk there. If you want to know what is at New House and see if Poppy succeeds, than I suggest you read this exciting, can’t put down, adventure book.This book is awesome! I couldn’t put it down! Whenever I read I didn’t want to stop. I would think other readers would think the same thing as me. So, if your near your public library, and you need a book, I check this one out!

Vito N.

Woodridge School

Chicken Boy By: Frances O'Roark Dowell

Chicken Boy is a book about a boy named Tobin McCauley. Tobin has two brothers, Patrick and Shane, and they're both delinquents. Tobin also has a grandmother who's kind of like a mom to him, because his mom died of cancer. Tobin has a dad whom he rarely sees. Tobin's grandmother and dad hate each other because Tobin's grandmother says that he didn't do enough to keep her daughter alive. Tobin had no friends until he met Henry and his brother who raised chickens. Henry said the chickens were like people because they have feelings. Now, Tobin finds a new passion for chickens.

Tobin's grandmother called social service. Now the question is, who is Tobin going to stay with? His grandmother or his dad?

Stephanie G.

Grade: 6

E.S Rhodes

Where The Red Fern Grows By: Wilson Rawls

Where The Red Fern Grows is a story about a boy named Billy who lives in the Ozark Mountains with his two redbone coon hunting hounds. Billy gives everything he has to his dogs. The dogs names are Little Ann and Old Dan. They are quite a pair! Little Ann is quick and cunning. No coon can outsmart her. Old Dan is tough and fearless. After Little Ann tracks down the coon, Old Dan is off for the final fight. Billy's grandpa counts and sells the coon hides for Billy. It's a real family affair. They enter a contest for the best hunting dogs. Will they win the golden cup and all of the prize money?

Be prepared for the emotional ups and downs!

By: Stephanie G. and Taylor R.
Grade Six
E.S. Rhodes

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

This realistic fiction, often mystery is a definite page turner. Roy is the new kid in his middle school in South Florida. He finds two off-beat friends, Beatrice (with “major attitude”), and her runaway brother, Mullet Fingers (you’ll find out about the name on your own). The three of them unite when they discover that a major pancake restaurant chain is going to build its newest store on land that is home to a protected species of owls. There’s a big cover up going on, and what can three kids do in a world of grown-ups? You’ll be surprised, and delighted, and very gratified at the imagination with which Roy, Beatrice and Mullet Fingers manage their…sabotage. This book, which inspired a movie in 2006, is perfect if you care about animals, the environment, and making a difference.

Check out the author's web site:

http://www.carlhiaasen.com/young.html

Carl Hiaasen’s web site for young readers. Take a look at some of his latest books.