Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

Title: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Publishers: Orchard books (Scholastic)
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 402
Rating: 8/10


This book is a series of eight books. Jenny Nimmo has written other books like Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie bone and the Invisible boy, Charlie Bone and the Castle of mirrors, Charlie Bone and the Hidden King, Charlie Bone and the Beast, Charlie Bone and the Shadow, and Charlie Bone and the Red Knight. Jenny Nimmo is thinking of writing a trilogy, called the Red King Trilogy.

In this book Charlie Bone is having a crazy day. Charlie’s cousin from the past, Henry, has accidentally gone into the future or Charlie’s present time, by using the time twister. The time twister is a big marble that can make you go in the future only. Since you cannot go into the past using the time twister, Henry is stuck in the future. Now Charlie Bone is going to have to have to think of a way to get Henry back to his time. Henry’s life is very unlucky, because now Henry’s cousin Zeke has found him and will not hold back to kill him. He has sent guards to kill Henry. How can Charlie and his friends hide Henry? At the same time how can Charlie figure out a way to get Henry to the past? The big question is, will Charlie send Henry back into his time?

Here is an interesting excerpt from the book, describing the time when Henry and Charlie meet :

"Are you…?" he began. "I mean have you…well, the thing is, I've seen you in a photo. Are you Henry Yewbeam?"

"That's me," said Henry, beaming. "I think I've seen you, too. Somewhere. Who are you?"
"I'm your…erm…sort of cousin, Charlie Bone."

"No! This is very good news. A cousin, well, well." Henry marched over and shook Charlie's hand. "Very good to meet you, Charlie Bone."

"The news isn't that good," said Charlie. "What was the date when you…just now?"

"January 12, 1916," said Henry. "I always know the date."

"I'm afraid it isn't that now."…

"You're almost ninety years ahead of where you were," said Charlie…

Charlie saw a large glass marble rolling across the hall. "Wow!" he exclaimed, but before he could pick it up, Henry shouted, Careful, Charlie. Don't look at it."

"Why?"

"It's what brought me here."

In the excerpt above, Henry touched and looked at the time twister, so he went in the future. The time twister is a marble which can bring you only to the future. So Henry is stuck in the future, with Charlie Bone and his friends.

I thought Jenny Nimmo put a lot of thinking into this book. I also liked that she put a lot of detail and explained everything nicely. I loved the fact that Jenny Nimmo included two great new characters, Henry and Jamie. I thought the characters were great because Henry was brave and Jamie was a nice brother, who cared a lot about Henry. I liked the story because it had scary moments, funny moments, exciting moments. etc. Compared to other books I would say it was better then the first book because now Charlie is using his powers more often so it is a lot more exciting.

I would recommend this to kids who like fantasy, thick books, adventure, a little action, and super powers.

Book Wars

In my school, we have a book club. Each year in book club, there is an activity called Book Wars that we do. Book Wars is when we get quizzed over The Lone Star Books of the year. There are 20 Lone Star Books in all. Some of the books we had to read that year were:

Titles: Author:

- The Season By: Sarah MacLean
- The Roar By: Emma Clayton
- The Demon King By: Cinda Williams Chima
- When You Reach Me By: Rebecca Stead
- Graceling By: Kristin Cashore

You can work together with other people or you can work alone. Most people work in groups so it is easier or because it is more fun. For those that haven’t heard of Book Wars, it is a written test. Here are some of the rules:

- For every question you put the authors name on, you get three extra points
- You must stop writing once time is up

Last year my friend and I entered the competition as a team. We went against 5 other groups, some older, and some younger. In the test there were many questions. You had to remember many details. My partner and I studied for the whole year, reading and rereading the books over and over again. In the end, once the results were in my friend and I won. The book we won was Everfound, the last book to the Skin-Jacker trilogy by the author Neal Shusterman. It was one of the 150 books that were signed by Neal Shusterman himself. Once I read the series I wanted to read the rest of the books he has written.



This includes:

- Unwind
- Bruiser
- Downsiders
- The Eyes of King Midas
- The Shadow Club

And many more!

After the prizes were given, there was a raffle and books were given out. All in all, my first time in Book Wars turned out pretty well.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 312
Rating: 9.9/10

Get the mail,Dudley,” said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper.
“Make Harry get it.”
“Get the mail, Harry.”
“Make Dudley get it.”
“Poke him with your smelting stick, Dudley.”

Harry dodged the smelting stick and went to get the mail. Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon’s sister Marge, who was vacationing on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and -- a letter for Harry. Harry picked it up and stared at it, his heart twanging like a giant elastic band. No one, ever, in his whole life, had written to him. Who would? He had no friends, no other relatives -- he didn’t belong to the library, so he never even got rude notes asking for books back. Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so plainly that there could be no mistake.

Mr. H. Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

Harry Potter is living with his weird aunt, uncle, and their son, Dudley. Harry, is constantly being pushed around by his aunt and uncle. In the excerpt above, Harry has gone to get the mail, and he finds a letter for himself. The letter is from some one unknown. He is very surprised because he never gets letters from anybody!

This book is in a series of seven books, known as the Harry Potter series. The other books in the series are : Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Price, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This series has also been turned into movies. Just recently the seventh part two, Harry Potter movie has come out. J.K. Rowling has not written other books besides Harry Potter.

Harry Potter has a horrible life, his parents were killed, and he has to live with his mean aunt, and uncle, and their son, Dudley. He is constantly being threatened by his aunt and uncle, about mysterious things he has not been able to explain. Finally, when Harry turns 11 he figures out the truth about him-self. He is a wizard, a very famous wizard, because he is the only wizard who survived the killing curse, which is a curse that kills anything, and the only wizard who almost killed Voldemort, a dark wizard. Also he figures out that Voldemort who killed his parents is gaining more power than before. Once Harry figures out he is a wizard, he goes to Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, where he learns about the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Sorcerer’s Stone can bring someone back to power or life. Will Harry be able to stop Voldemort from getting the sorcerer’s stone?

I thought this book was excellent for many reasons. First of all, in the beginning of each chapter, J.K. Rowling put a picture that told us a little of what was going to happen. I thought it was very unique. Secondly, I thought the character, Harry Potter, was a good character with a lot of courage and bravery. Thirdly, I thought that the story was fantastic. I wonder how J.K. Rowling thought of a story that is so unique. Fourthly I liked the conclusion, the conclusion was very touching and it had a little suspense. It was touching because I hated to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back home to their parents or guardian, after all that they had been through. There was also suspense because when Harry, Ron, and Hermione left each other, you start to wonder what amazing adventure will they have next year. Fifthly, I thought the description of certain parts in this book were superb. Again, I thought this book was fantastic, and I can’t wait to read the next one!!!

I would recommend this book to people who love fantasy and adventure.

Review:Choke

Title: Choke
Author: Obert Skye
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Pages: 327
Rating: 8/10



I looked back at the stone. It sank slowly into the soil a couple of inches, and the plant beside it was still. I gazed directly at the small plant and did what knew I had to do.
   “Grow,” I commanded it.
   Almost instantly the plant began to shiver. Its leaves shook, and a small black shoot shot out of the middle like a serpents tongue. It twisted up then arched itself back down into the dirt. Two seconds later it popped up next to the stone and quickly wrapped itself around it.

This is an excerpt from when Beck planted a stone, which was soon going to turn into a humongous dragon.

This book is in a series of two books, and the books in the series are Pillage and Choke. The author Obert Skye has written plenty other books like, the well known series of Leven Thumps: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. Leven Thumps and the Whispered secret, Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want, Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra, and Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder. Obert Skye has also started a new series called Geth and the Return of the Lithens.

Beck Pillage is a trouble magnet. Since he last killed the dragons, Beck has lived with his dad in the mansion. When a mysterious named Whitey appears, he tells Beck that there is one more dragon left. It is the Queen dragon. He says, that Beck has to kill the dragon when it is young, otherwise the town of Kingsplot will get destroyed. With the help of his friends, Beck plants the dragon but doesn’t kill it because he thinks it is adorable. Will the town of Kingsplot fall into the hands of the Queen dragon and will Beck kill the Queen dragon?

I thought this book was very good. First of all, the description of the queen dragon matches the covers drawing. It was the same thing in Pillage. Secondly, at the end of each chapter Obert Skye includes a picture of a dragon that explains more about the book. My favorite part of this book was when they killed the queen dragon, named Lizzy. Obert Skye put so much detail in the book that it was like a movie going in my head. I gave it an eight out of ten because in some parts I got very confused, since Obert Skye did not describe some parts well. One of the parts I got confused was when Beck was talking to his dad and accusing him of being Whitey and for tricking Beck to plant the stone. I wondered how Beck knew that, and why Beck’s Father would want to trick Beck into planting the stone, because he was the one who wanted to put an end to dragons. Otherwise I loved this book, and I hope Obert Skye writes a new one.

I would recommend this book to people who love fantasy and people who like dragons.