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.

Guest Post -- Review : Diary of a wimpy kid: Rodrick Rules

Title: Diary of a wimpy kid Rodrick Rules
Author: Jeff Kinney
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Amulet books
Pages: 217
Main Character: Greg
Rating: 8/10

We had to do the whole skit in Spanish. Rowley asked what I would do for a candy bar, and I said I’d stand on my head.

This is Greg saying this when they are doing a school project in Spanish. This is the second book of the Diary of a wimpy kid series. Jeff Kinney has written other books in this series, like Diary of a wimpy kid, Diary of a wimpy kid Rodrick Rules, Diary of a wimpy kid the Last Straw, Diary of a wimpy kid Do-it your-self, Diary of a wimpy kid Dog Days.

This book is about a boy in his second year of Middle school. In this book Greg’s life is getting more humiliating and harder with Rodrick hitting him, and Manny the little pest, annoying him. But his Mom and Dad are still the same, with his Dad being focused on setting up a civil war battle field set and his Mom still trying to make Greg and Rodrick more responsible.

This book tells us about Greg’s activities during his second year of Middle School. Greg is still the laziest person. Sometimes he fails tests. Greg ia also wasting money to get the sweet secrets Diary. In this book Greg has so many problems like he has a crush on a girl. He also has some stuff to worry about when his mother doesn’t try to humiliate him but ends up doing it anyway.

The whole thing started when Greg’s Mom got him a Diary to write his feelings down. Greg doesn’t want anybody to know he writes in a Diary, because he doesn’t want to look like a wimp. He actually wanted a Journal, but instead he got a diary. There is one thing that I don’t understand about this book - why doesn’t Greg just leave his Diary at home? Then nobody would think he is a sissy. But he would have to hide the diary so Rodrick wouldn’t take it.

The characters in this book are Greg who is lazy. Rowley is fat and sort of selfish. Greg and Rodrick’s younger brother Manny is the annoying little guy. Greg and Mannys older brother, Rodrick is a person who hits hard and is sneaky. Greg’s Mom is a very boring person, and his Dad is a very focused person.

I think this book was good, very interesting and had a lot of surprises. I think that Jeff Kinney is the master of surprises like when Rowley’s baby sitter changes unexpectedly. I do think the first “Diary of a wimpy kid” was better. I hope Jeff Kinney continues the series of the Diary of a wimpy kid.

I would recommend this book to most of elementary school because I think they would really enjoy having descriptions of middle school.

Guest Post -- Review : Diary of a wimpy kid

Title: Diary of a wimpy kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Genre: Realistic, Fiction
Publisher: Amulet books
Pages: 217
Main Character: Greg
Rating: 9/10

I don’t mean to brag or anything, but what we came up with was WAY better than the Crossland High School haunted house. This is an Excerpt from the book when they made a better plan then Crossland High Schools Haunted House.

This book is about a boy named Greg who is in for a lot of trouble because he is always doing something wrong. He basically fails most of the tests at school because he doesn’t study. This book is part of a series. It has six books in the series. Jeff Kinney has written Diary of a wimpy kid, Diary of a wimpy kid Rodrick Rules, Diary of a wimpy kid The Last Straw, Diary of a wimpy kid Do-It Yourself Book, Diary of a wimpy kid Dog Days. There will be another Diary of a wimpy kid book coming out in November 2010. It is called, Diary of a wimpy kid The Ugly Truth.

This book is about Greg and his friend Rowley about their life at school and at home. I wonder if he will survive middle school ?

Greg is a person who really loves video games. Greg’s, friend, Rowley is a guy who doesn’t really know how to draw. Manny’s and Greg’s big brother Rodrick is a person who is really not thoughtful. Greg and Rodrick’s younger brother, Manny is a person who doesn’t really understand anything. Greg’s mom, is a woman who thinks before she acts. Greg’s Dad, is a person who when he starts something, wants to finish it before he does something else.

My opinion of this book is that I would recommend this to anybody who likes comedy and who likes to draw. I thought Jeff Kinney did a very good job with this book, because he draws very well, and he puts a lot of surprises in the book like when Greg found out that Manny drew something on Greg’s door with permanent Marker. This book and the series is special because the drawings have speech bubbles.

I think Greg should work more harder. But I do think that Greg has sort of a wimpy life.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 375
Publisher: Disney, Hyperion Books
Characters: Percy Jackson, Grover, Annabeth, Mrs. Jackson, Zeus: lord of the sky, king of gods, Poseidon: lord of the sea, Hades, lord of the underworld, Kronos: evil titan lord
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Rating: 8/10

'Mrs. Dodds spun toward me with a murderous look in her eye.
My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the sword.
She snarled, “Die, Honey!"'

This excerpt is from Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief the first book of this series. After being expelled from a school each year, 12 year old Percy Jackson returns from Yancy Academy and goes on a vacation with his mom to the Montauk beach. But when they get attacked by a monster, his mom asks him to go to a summer camp for his protection. Percy fights the monster (a minotaur), but his mom is taken away at the end of the fight. Percy must learn how to fight, and go on a quest to save his mother and father. He must find the lightning bolt belonging to Zeus, lord of the sky and another object belong to a god that is accused of being the thief. He must find these objects in 10 days or war will occur on Mount Olympus.

My favorite character in The Lightning Thief is Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. She is my favorite character because as she, Percy and Grover go off in their adventure, she saves them quite a few times, but also makes many mistakes on what to do. This tells us that everyone is not perfect, because even though Annabeth is the daughter of wisdom she can also make mistakes.

I like Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief because for one there is no other book about Greek gods and goddesses, that shows that even their slightest mistakes can cause huge problems. Another reason is that even though there are books on Greek mythology this is the first book I have read where myths actually come alive, and where Gods are the cause of all unlucky and lucky things.

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief is a book that describes what is happening just right so that it seems like you have to watch out if you don’t want to be losing your head to a sword! Also it is full of twists and turns that make it seem that Percy and his friends have already solved the problem but there is still a piece missing. Rick Riordan is an author who will constantly make you want to pick up this book to finish it. Also he keeps his readers in suspense so that you can’t tell if Percy did the right thing or if he made the decision that could end all humanity.

Will Percy and his friends find the lightning bolt? Will Percy be able to clear his father’s name? Will he be able to save his mom? Will he even survive his quest? If this book review makes you curious then read Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. I recommend this book to anybody who is interested in any type of mythology and mysteries.

Guest Post -- Review : Percy Jackson - The Lightning Thief

This is a book review by Guest Blogger, KBoy (Emma's brother) :

Title : Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief
Author : Rick Riordan
Genre :Fantasy, Fiction
Pages : 375
Publisher : Disney, Hyperion Books
Rating : 9/10

This book is the first book of a five book series. This book is based on Greek mythology. All the gods who appear in this book are Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Ares, Hermes, Dionysus. Zeus is the god of the sky, Poseidon is the god of sea, earthquakes and Hades is the god of the underworld. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and battle, Hermes is the god of travelers, and Ares is the god of war. Dionysus is the god of wine.

The main character of this book is Percy. Percy finds out he is a demigod because he is the son of Poseidon and a human. Now he has to go on a quest to save his mom, find Zeus’s lightning bolt which is a weapon that Zeus picked and Hades helmet of darkness which is the weapon Hades had chosen. Annabeth the daughter of Athena, Grover who is half goat and half human are helping Percy with the quest.

Percy also has enemies like Kronos and Furies. Kronos is the father of Poseidon, Chiron, Zeus and Hades. Furies are Hades servants. Percy is brave, cool, trustworthy and nice. He never gives up. Will Percy return with the lightning bolt or will he fail ?

My opinion of the book is that it is very good because Rick Riordan puts many details in the story. So it helps the reader understand more and lets them know what is happening in the book. I think all of the parts were interesting. I think there were just the right amount of pages in this book. I think there could have been more characters in this book. But otherwise I thought the book was pretty good.