Isis' Picks #1: Sharon Flake's Who am I Without Him?

Who am I Without Him?: Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives is a book about girls and their issues with boys. I believe that the best story in the book was "Hunting for Boys." It was about 10 church-going best friends. These girls could not date, look at, or even think about boys--let alone wear short and tight clothing. They knew that if they did any that the trouble was on! They did it anyway by getting on a bus and heading to a bad part of town to meet some "bad boys." What do you think happened to them? Did their parents find out? What were the "bad boys" really like? Who am I Without Him? will leave you wanting more, so read to see what happens next!

Orson Scott Card's Enchantment: A Review by Elsa!

Ivan discovers a magical clearing in the forest when he returns to his homeland in Russia. Inside this clearing, he finds a sleeping woman. They travel back in time, living out what Ivan believes might be the origin of all Russian fairytales. I liked this book because it is inventive and different. I recommend this book because it is exciting.

Isis' Book Reviews!

Tiger Reviews will now be featuring posts exclusively written by the Longfellow Library's very own Isis, an 8th grade student assistant from IWE (Independent Work Experience) program! Look for her reviews throughout the year by checking out the posts labeled with "Isis'_picks."

Here's a brief biography of Isis:

Hello, my name is Isis. I'm writing to give you a little info about myself to let you know the true me. I am a 13 year old girl who loves to dress to impress and write to spill my heart out. Also I love reading too. I mainly read drama books, but I have learned to widen my horizons and step out of my comfort zone and read books like: Dear Ellen Bee by Mary Lyons and Muriel Miller Branch, Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper, and Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes.

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: A Review by Lana!

Pride and Prejudice is a tale of the five Bennet daughters, especially Elizabeth, trying to make good marriages. Then two young handsome rich men enter the picture: Mr Bingly and Mr. Darcy who fall in love with Elizabeth and Jane. Will love be enough to conquer social constraints, fortune, and pride? Even though the language of this book is sophisticated it never gets boring. It is a timeless classic and a story that won't let you go!

Banned Books Week: Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!

The American Library Association has declared the last week of September of each year as "Banned Books Week" or BBW which celebrates the freedom to read. Every year the Longfellow Library celebrates Banned Books Week by prominently displaying books that other communities have attempted to ban from schools and libraries. We encourage you to take a look at our display of "Banned" Books and learn about the importance of guarding intellectual freedom. According to the ALA website on BBW: "BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them."



If you suppress or silence the views of one person, then it makes it okay for someone else to silence the ideas and views you want to share! Check out this article and list of Banned Books for Young Adults and then check one out from the Longfellow Library. Tell us what your favorite banned book is and celebrate your freedom to read!

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Short Review by Jade!

Tom is an honest man who is the slave of a kind slave master who goes in debt and has to sell his favorite slaves, Uncle Tom and Harry. The mother of Harry overhears this, tells Tom and his wife, and together they run away. During their escape, Tom refuses to run away and is taken by the slave trader who purchased him. While Tom is separated from his wife and children he hopes someday he will return home to his family. I liked this book because of all the figurative language and all the beautifully developed characters. I recommend this book because it teaches you about the horrors of slavery and how it broke up and separated families.

Book Title & Author: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Accelerated Reader level: 9.3
Accelerated Reader points: 32.0

George Orwell's 1984: A Review by Jenny!

In this story a guy lives in 1984. In this world there are three big countries and they have been at war for a long time. Also in this world, the government controls everyone to love the government. I liked this book because it made me think about how much freedom we truly have and how we take it for granted. You should read this book because it's insightful and it makes you think.

Book Title & Author: 1984 by George Orwell

Accelerated Reader level: 8.9
Accelerated Reader points: 17.0