Andrew

__**First Trimester Book Review: Bridge To Terabithia: Andrew Kelly**__

My first trimester weblog book was Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson. The book was about a boy named Jess, who is in fifth grade, and is looking forward for his senior year in elementary school. He gets a new neighbor, a girl named Leslie Burke. They soon become great friends, and create an imaginary world named Terabithia. It is basically a world of their imagination, and they are the lands’ beloved rulers. The genre that would fit this book would be fiction, because what happened in this book could happen, but most likely would not happen, but having giants and evil spells over a land is impossible.

The plot of the story is pretty simple. A ten year old boy in the fifth grade wants to fit in by being the fastest boy in the fifth grade. Then he meets his new neighbor, Leslie Burke. She seems to be the fastest of the fifth grade, and Jess (the boy) is mad. They then get to know each other, they become good friends, and soon create an imaginary world called Terabithia. The plot was understandable, and it was easy to read, especially for an eight grader. The book is full of adventure and imagination, which I personally enjoyed in the book.

The setting of the book is in a small town, by Washington D.C. Jess’s dad works in the epicenter of Washington D.C, and always comes home late. The land around Terabithia is an old and deserted wood, which you can only get to by swinging on an old rope swing. Below the rope, is an evaporated tributary of a river. However later in the book, it floods, and becomes a stream. Jess’s school, is a usual elementary school placement; covered by a field, and in the outskirts of a populated area. The school building is a two story tall building, and about two football fields. It has a soccer field, a meadow, and a four square court. Jess’s home is in the outskirts of a large woods, which is the gateway to Terabithia. It has two houses, Jess’s house, and the Burke’s property. It is basically a dirt road, and is very unpopulated.

The style of the book was interesting. It showed a small-town family of seven, who grew up in a barren population, and the father adapts to the city culture, while he is in D.C. There were a bunch of twists in the story. Like how Jess’s father gets laid off in the middle of the book. Or how (I don’t want to spoil the book or anything) Leslie dies at the end of the book, on her way to Terabithia, or how Leslie enjoys church more than a movie. I don’t really enjoy church all that much, especially not more than a movie.               <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">**__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second Trimester Book Review: Lord of the Flies: Andrew Kelly __**

My second trimester book review is on Lord of the Flies. It is written by William Golding. The simple way to explain the plot is a band of boys are stranded on an unexplored island. So it is obvious that they need to be rescued. Although in the meantime they build their own society with their rules and rituals. Then the island gets to them. It makes them do things you would think kids couldn't even think of doing.

With the struggle of survival, this vicious beast that is rumored to roam the island, the savage behavior of simple school-boys, and the many more challenges they will face. This book does not express the actions of children and teenagers, but the savagery of the human mind. The way this cursed island gets to their minds is extremely shocking. You will be blown away by the way these sophisticated boys turn to savages.

The graphic things in this book is gruesome, but the literary way William Golding describes it is beautiful. It is a mix of savagery and beauty. How would you react in this situation. Well this is how children that were once sophisticated, well mannered, and polite turn into things. How the nervousness gets to them is amazing. This is a must read, and no doubt about it I will read the sequel if there is one.




 * __Third Trimester Book Review: The Hobbit: Andrew Kelly__**

====My third trimester book review is on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit". The Hobbit is about a small creature called a Hobbit. They are short, love to throw parties, tend to be fat, but they are a peaceful race of creatures. This book specifically looks upon a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit that loves to stay indoors, smoke his pipe outside when watching the sun set, and wants nothing to do with adventure. All that changes when a wizard and thirteen homeless dwarves ask him for his help in their adventure of getting back their fallen kingdom's treasure, which is now guarded by a dragon named Smaug.====

====With a perilous journey filled with evil goblins, giant man-eating spiders, and a dragon feared by an entire countryside, and other enemies waiting to foil the adventure of the wizard, the hobbit, and the dwarves. This book explains not only that one small creature meant to farm and craft, can find another person inside. Not a lazy crafter, but a burglar, a spy, and a warrior. From crossing The Shire, the home of the Hobbits, to climbing The Misty Mountains, walking through a dangerous path of a cursed wood, and finding his way into the Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo definitely finds his true self.====

====This book is a perfect way to sit back relax, and read an exciting book filled with surprises, enemies, and courageous acts, you must read The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien has made a masterpiece in literature, and is a perfect book in finding your true self. I would definitely give this book five out of five stars.====