Teen Fiction Reviews from 6th Grade Students

Written During Past Summer Reading Programs

All ratings are out of 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best

Emily Windsnap and the Castle In The Mist by Liz Kessler

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

This is a book about a semi-mermaid named Emily. She lives on Allpoints Island, half air, half water. One day she finds a
ring, a very special ring. Neptune fins out and tries to get the ring but it won’t come off her finger. Then she is whisked
away to a place in the middle of the ocean. Will she figure out how to get back, and what the ring is?

Tales of Birbal by Amar Chitha Katha

Genre: N/A

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

These are stories about witty Birbal. He is a hero and a witty man in Akbar's court. He is thus considered a gem in King
Akbar's court. He is world renowned and visited by many different people. I especially loved his stories about being just
to people.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Genre: Fantasy /Action

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

The Last Olympian is the 5th (and last) book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series. It is when Kronos (bad guy)
tries to destroy Mount Olympus. In the end the gods win but Percy (the expected hero to save Olympus) is not the hero.
If you have not read the other books you will not understand this book. It takes place in our time! I would recommend to
4th grade+. Great book! Give it a 5. :)

Review written by someone in Grade 6

This book is a good read for older kids. I would recommend this to anyone- even if you hate learning about Greek
Mythology because the story is action- packed and will teach about Greek Mythology in a fun way. There is also some
romance for romance- lovers, but if you don't like romance- well, you still won't be disappointed at the end. The only
bad part is this is the last book in the series. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, ask your librarian for the Percy
Jackson and the Olympians series. Otherwise, the first book is The Lightning Thief, the second is The Sea of Monsters,
the third is The Titan's Curse, the fourth is The Battle of the Labyrinth, and the fifth, or last, is The Last Olympian. Thanks
for reading my review on The Last Olympian.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

Once Upon a Marigold is about a very young boy named Christian, who enjoys inventing things. He ran away from his
family and into the forest. A troll named Edric found him in a bush and tried to get him home, but Christian refused so
Ed let him stay and raised him. Eleven years later Christian is 17 years old and has started to take an interest in the
princess, Marigold, who lives across the river. He watches her a lot through his telescope. He notices that almost
everybody avoids touching her except for her three dogs and her father, the king. Marigold has met a lot of suitors but
doesn't love any of them, but then she gets a message from Christian carried across the river by a pigeon and soon they
develop a strong friendship. When Christen gets a job at the castle he is overjoyed about being closer to Marigold, but
then she has to get married to Sir Magnus and Christian has to stop it. Once Upon a Marigold is a story with romance,
make-believe creatures, and a power obsessed queen, and you will have to read the book to find out what else.

Twice Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

The first book might end happily ever after, but here comes some problems. First of all, Queen Olympia comes back.
Second of all, Christian and Marigold fight. Read more to find out! Thanks for reading my review.

This is a great book. If you enjoy Santa, knock-knock jokes, Evil queens and elephants you should read this book. This
book is an adventure/humor/Fantasy. Most of the time, I find sequels to be pretty boring, but Twice Upon a Marigold is
an exception. In this book, the evil Queen Olympia comes up with another evil plot. Though the ending isn't what I
expected.

Thirteen by Lauren Myracle

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

This book starts on her thirteenth birthday and ends on her fourteenth. Through this period of time She goes through
boyfriend troubles, sister advice and much more. The good thing about this book is that it mite tell you some of things
that will happen to you. One of the things Winnie learns( the girl in the book) is that people don't act like their selves, to
get other things or to draw attention. At the end of this book I felt like she was more mature.
 Twelve by Lauren Myracle

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review written by someone in Grade 6

Twelve is about a girl named Winnie. In the beginning of the book she turns twelve and along with that she starts
puberty. She gets boobs, has her period, crushes on guys, and has some friendship issues. Winnie doesn't believe in bras
so it's pretty hard for her when she is forced to go bra shopping with her mom. Also Winnie is starting junior high with
her best friend, Dinah. Fortunately, though, they become friends with a girl named Cinnamon. In this book Winnie learns
a lot of stuff about life she didn't know before and you probably will learn something too.

This is about a young girl who goes through puberty. The book starts on her twelfth birthday and ends around her
thirteenth birthday. Through this period of time, exciting and embarrassing moments occur. This book told me to ask for
help and advice if you need it and always be happy or excited about something even if our not because it makes
everything a whole lot easier. I loved these books so much that, everyone should read it.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Genre: romance, adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

17 year old Ginny has 13 blue envelopes with notes telling her what to do from her aunt. These adventures will take her
across countries. Ginny's life changes after the 13 envelopes are opened read and already been done. Will this be
torture or fun and a new experience for Ginny? A lot of secrets Ginny do not know.

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

Genre: realistic fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

Absolutely Normak Chaos is about a girl named Mary Lou Finney, her assignment for the summer is to keep a journal.
Over the summer her cousin, Carl Ray, from West Virginia comes to stay with them for part of the summer. He is
supposedly looking for a job but Mary Lou finds out otherwise. Also she gets into a relationship with a boy from school,
Alex Cheevey. Mary Lou also over the summer has to read the Odyssey and I think she figured out some new thing s
either about life or metaphors.

Across The Puddingstone Dam by Melissa Wiley

Genre: Historical

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This book is the last in the Charlotte series. She is now eleven. There are lots of changes now, even a new baby! But
sadly there is a new road being put in front of there house and now there is a stench that wont go away. There is news
they are moving. Can Charlotte handle it all?

Airball: My Life in Briefs by L.D. Harkrader

Genre: fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This book is about Kirby Nickel and the seventh grade basketball team of Stuckey Middle School. Kirby gains confidence
through his experience on the team. He also discovers the identity of his father. The team plays basketball in their
underpants and gets great results. They meet a famous basketball player who used to play for Stuckey Middle School
and High School. This book has a great ending!

Allie Finkle; Best Friends and Drama Queens by Meg Cabot

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

A new girl names Cheyenne moves in from Toronto. She destroys the school with her kissing games. Allie must save
everyone. Allie's friends are breaking up. She is on a mission to bring them all together.

Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This was a really good book! This book is about a girl named Nina who was captured by the population police and put in
prison. She then was told that she had to betray 3 younger children to make them tell who gave them fake identities.
Eventually, she befriends them, and they escape. Eventually she finds out this was all made as a trick to see if she really
wanted to save illegal third children.

Among the imposters by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Unknown

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This book is the second book in the 3 book series. A boy named Luke Garner has gotten his fake ID. He is now attending
a school for boys. Many of which are 3rd children, themselves, as is Luke. He joins a group of boys who meet up with
other "third children" from the brother school.

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

Genre: realistic fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This is the sixth book in the Alex Rider series. Alex Rider is interesting because he is a MI6 agent and he is only 14. There
is a lot of action. It involves space, eco -terrorists, and a soccer team. The mastermind behind the plot is a Russian
billionaire named Nikolai Drevin

Blow Out the Moon by Libby Koponen

Genre: Auto- Biography

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This is a book about a girl named Libby Koponen. She is an American girl who moves to England. While she is in England
she starts out horrible and ends up going to Sibton Park Boarding School. It is a great school and Libby starts to like
England more. Will everything turn out all right?

Book of World Records 2009 by Jennifer Corr Morse

Genre: Non-fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

An excellent book! Large sports section. There are also natural and man-made records. You will be surprised!

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Ratings: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

This book is about a boy who gets adopted by a family but runs away because he gets treated badly. As he travels
around finding food and shelter he comes across strangers, a library, and cardboard village, a lot of lies, starvation and
walking a lot of miles. After and during this time he decides to go to the one person he has heard most of by his mother,
is her divorced father. During the night of his long travel this nice man brings him to his house, the next mourning he
drops him off at a band the dad owns. In the end the dad becomes the grandfather, the mother becomes the daughter
of him. She ran away because he was hard on him, she left little hints of the grandfather so that he would go to him
when she died because she didn't like talking about him and Bud did. I really loved this book.

Calvin and Hobbes: Lazy Sunday by Bill Waterson

Genre: Humor/Classic

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

I enjoyed the book very much. It was very funny. It is about a boy named Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes.

Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

About this girl who leaves her house so her sister doesn't get given away because her family wants a boy. She has many
adventures. She works with silkworms and also earns a plot of land.

Confessions of an Almost Movie Star by Mary Kennedy

Genre: romance, adventure

Ratings: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

A girl and her friend go to auditions to be in a new movie with a super star cutie. The friend is planning on auditioning
but the other girl is just to be some company. When the girl gets the big part her friend is disappointed. Will the
friendship be torn apart?? A Hollywood story!!!

Crane by Jeff Stone

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in grade 6

In this book a girl named hok who has been accused of killing shoaling sentries thus leading to the destruction of the
mighty temple. She wanders to regions capital and hides at the jade dragon. In the city she finds her mother and sister.
Soon after her temple brothers who also found their fathers. They where later attacked by tong long during the dragon
boat festival.
 Dandelion Fire by N. D. Wilson

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

It's a very inspiring and well described and well written novel. Its action packed and it gets your heart racing. Henry York
is the main character in this story and he goes through a lot of things. I would recommend this for sixth and seventh
graders.

Diary of a Wimpy: the last straw by Jeff Kinney

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is about a kid named Greg Heffley who is in middle school. He writes about his life and everything that
happens to him in his diary. He has huge problems and tiny ones. He is trying to ask this girl out at prom but ...

Dizzy by Cathy Cassidy

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is about a girl, Dizzy, who lives with only her dad. Her mom ran away as a gypsy when she was 4. Every year on
her birthday, she receives a present, but one year she comes home. It comes to be Dizzy travels and camps with her
mom. She realizes her mom is not the most caring person, but more selfish. Will Dizzy go to her Dad or travel with her
mom?

Eagle by Jeff Stone

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is about a boy named Ying that has to hide from the law after being falsely arrested. Yings was assigned to
protect the emperor’s nephew. Yings number 2 in command Tong long wanted Yings job as general, and in the middle of
a battle Tong long killed the emperor’s nephew and cut off his head. Tong long brought the head to emperor and said
Ying was responsible for the death of his nephew. The emperor had Ying thrown into a top security jail. Ying was rescued
by his former temple brother Hok.
 Four Truths and a Lie by Lauren Barnholdt

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is full of surprises! It will always be a good read! Scarlett is hooked up with a pen pal. She is being told to write
four truths and a lie about herself. Scarlett can't fit into her new school. Her roommate is a disaster and just isn't the
same as other years. Will she feel right in her new school??

George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is about a little boy named George. He lives in a farm far away from everyone, so he has no one to play with.
One day when his mother is away, George has to give his grandmother medicine. George is bored so instead of giving
the grandmother her medicine he makes his own. He tries tons of different things like dark brown gloss paint, shaving
soap, and flea powder for dogs, shoe polish, powerful animal pills and much more. In the end weird things happened like
she grew and grew and grew until the mom came home.

Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen

Genre: historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

I recommended this book because I think it's a must read. Girl in a Cage is a story that will take you back to the time of
knights and kingdoms. When Majorie Bruce's father becomes King of Scotland, she's excited to become a princess. But
when she's captured and caged by the evil King Longshanks of England, Majorie has to show everyone what a princess is
like, even in a cage.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

In this book, Harry Potter seems endlessly more grown up than in the first book. Dumbledore is mysteriously missing
from Hogwarts. Harry later finds that he is looking for horcruxes so he can finally defeat Lord Voldemort. Near the end,
Harry figured out that Draco Malfoy was sent by Lord V. to make an entrance into Hogwarts. They succeeded, and the
death eaters killed Dumbledore. :(
 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

Genre: Adventure/mystery

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

There is so much that happens in this book. This starts with a group of wizards on Dumbledore's side working together
to stop Lord Voldemort from conquering the wizard world. Harry is facing many troubles at school and must face a new
teacher, names Professor Umbridge. Harry was banned from Quidditch for life. He has many challenges to overcome
and problems to face, in this book

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J. K. Rowling

Genre: fantasy/adventure

Rating: 5 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

I decided to reread the harry potter series because of the new movie. This is a fantastic book. Harry Potter Defeats lord
Voldemort and saves the philosophers stone. I think J.K Rowling is a great author. The harry potter books are some of
the best!

Heads or Tails by Jack Gantos

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 4 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

This book is about a boy named Jack and different stories that happen during the 6th grade, ranging from funny, sad,
and weird. Out of all the stories My Brothers Arm is my favorite. During this story Jack goes over to his neighbor’s house
to build a tree house club. While Jack and his neighbor built their tree house club, Pete, Jacks little brother, goes over to
see what they were up to. Jack and his friend said that the only way to get in the club was to stand on the end of a wood
see saw and he would jump off of the floor of the tree house and on to the other side of it, then Pete would go flying in
the air. After a couple of times Pete broke his arm. His arm swayed from side to side.

Heart to Heart by Laura Dower

Genre: mystery

Rating: 3 stars

Review written by someone in 6th grade

All of Madison’s friends have fallen in love and she’s the only one left. That is until she receives a few emails and a
couple love letters from her secret admirer. Madison thinks she knows who it. Who’s sending them to her? Is her guess
right?