Welcome to this site
In this issue:
Book Reviews, Music and Poetry
Cool, Cute,
and Funny Websites
By: Jaclyn
Ever logged onto the net and found you couldn’t find anything you wanted to do? I’ve done just that tons of times. Here is just a small sampling of some great sites!
www.soyouwanna.com - This is really
cool. It gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do completely useless
things!
www.bored.com - The name says it all! It’s
the best place to go for cool things to do when you’re, well, bored! www.heyyoupikachu.com
- I hate Pikachu, but if yellow electric mice are your cup of tea, this
one is tailor-made for you! Everything cute, fuzzy, and with attitude is here!
www.neopets.com - This is even cuter than
the last one! A lot of girls admire the Kougra and Jub-Jub, but boys can indulge
themselves in an adventure with the T-rex-like Grrall. Feed, play, and battle
alongside your pet for fun and games! A lot like Tamagotchti with money and
without the annoying beeping. www.candystand.com
- This one is great! An Internet gaming staple, but some new games make
this one a highlight! www.tvdance.com/bush-gore.com
- The election may be over, but the dancing never ends! Super-funny, and the
only place you can see the president elect in a tutu! Some other similar sites
are:
www.hamsterdance.com
www.fishydance.com
www.cowdance.com
www.sumodance.com
www.fanfiction.net - Rox! Write about
anything from Pokemon to Sailor Moon– They’ll post it! I write- why
don’t you?
These sites are great. Go on and try them out!
[Authors wish to remain anonymous]
Make up time at Make uptime
the end of the year. on Friday. | | | = 3 | | | | | | | = 7
Do you remember when we had three snow-days (Well most of us) in a row? Because
Michigan only allows two snow-days for free, we have to either make them up
at the end of the year or make some of the half days at school full days. Because
of this upcoming Friday, which was supposed to be a half-day, we interviewed
ten people to see what they would prefer. Here are the results. 70% wanted to
makeup time on half days and the rest wanted to make it up at the end of the
year.
According to our survey, most people want to start making up the snow day on Friday, which is what the district decided to do. Even though not everyone wants to start making up the snow day on Friday, most people do. Even though it may seem unfair, we do have to make up snow-days. (Bah humbug!!)
Well, the 2001 ball dropped again in Times Square. Another year done, passed never to come again! Now we have another year to face with good and bad things. Some of the bad things are deaths, crime and cat dashes, and what kind of blizzard will 2001 give us? And some of the good things are the babies born, new movies and duds, and also all the new book reviews; here are some now……
Anastasia:
The Last Grand Duchess
By Carolyn Meyer
Have you ever wondered what life was like for the last grand duchess? Well this
book explains it all. This book mixes historical facts with fiction. It is in
diary format. This book is set when Anastasia was twelve and goes until she
was seventeen. Anastasia led a carefree and happy life until the start of the
war. After the war started, things began to go downhill. The Russian people
started turning against Czar Nicolas, because they believed he did not know
what he was doing strategy-wise. Read this book to find out about what happened
to the last imperial family.
Reviewed by Emily
The Diary Of
A Young Girl
By Anne Frank
During World War II many people kept diaries, writing about their lives and what was happening in the world. Anne Frank, although she was living in hiding, also did. A lot of people have heard the basics of Anne’s story, but you will never know what really happened to her if you do not read her diary. Anne Frank describes that she was a girl living in Holland in the 1940’s, she went to a normal school, had many friends, and had a family that never really bothered her that much. In 1942 all of that, and more, changed in her life; the Franks went into hiding. Anne goes into detail about the people she is living with, Mrs. Van Daan is too stuck up, Mr. Van Daan thinks he knows too much, and Peter is an un-social boy that doesn’t like her. Anne is having a hard time adjusting to life in hiding (she is living in the annex of her dad’s office building), but then there are two robberies and all of the people caring for them get sick. The only thing Anne likes is the window above the annex and eventually her daily trips into Peter Van Daan’s room. Nothing can possibly get worse! Then, one of the people caring for them informs them of something horrible. Read the Diary Of Anne Frank to see what life in hiding during World War II was like.
Reviewed by Allison
A Doll's House
By Henrik Ibsen
In this interesting play, Henrik Ibsen sets up a scenario of a married couple
with three children that seem to have a good relationship with each other. This
couple is Nora and Helmer (called Torvald by Nora). They always seem to have
romantic conversations with each other, but soon, we learn that years ago Nora
had to take a loan from Nils Krogstad, in order to pay off a lifesaving medical
treatment for Helmer. He doesn't know this and thinks that the money came from
Nora's father, who has passed away.
Helmer, who has just been named a manager of a bank, is always treating Nora
in such a sweet manner, such as "Is that my little lark twittering out
there?" or calls by another bird's name. She always gets little money from
Helmer, but never gets large sums because Helmer is worried he thinks she doesn't
know how to manage her money wisely. In the beginning, Nora treats Helmer with
overwhelming respect although Nora is hiding her loan that she is paying off
on a regularly with some of the money from Helmer. Nora doesn't want Helmer
to think she took a loan since she thinks it could affect their relationship.
There are three other supporting characters in this play: Dr. Rank, Nils Krogstad,
and Christine Linde. Dr. Rank is a friend of the family who is seriously ill.
Nils Krogstad a worker at the bank, who is about to his job to a friend of Nora's,
Christine Linde, a woman who recently moved back tothe area because her husband
died.
At the end of Act II, we find out Nora forged her father's signature on the
loan. Krogstad had written a letter to tell Helmer about the loan. Nora is worried
that Helmer will read the letter Krogstad wrote.
This play is about a woman trying to understand her marriage, and always wanting
something wonderful to happen. With Helmer, she finally realizes that she isn't
being treated the way she wants, and nothing wonderful seems to happen. Nora
had no trouble making the decision of leaving her family, but perhaps she would
have had a hard time recovering from this rare type of circumstance in this
time and age.
Reviewed By Michael
Grab Hands and
Run
By Frances Temple
This is a story of two children and their mother running to Canada. Their father is reported missing in El Salvador, where people are missing and are never to be seen again. This is an exciting story whice keeps you on the tip of your chair. Find out if the family does make it to Canada.
Reviewed by Kamayani
Gypsy Rizka
By Lloyd Alexander
is about a gypsy girl named Rizka who lives just outside a city named Greater
Dunitsa, in an old gypsy cart. Not many in this town like her, save a precious
few. She stirs up trouble and likes to “Manage a long” love affairs,
which are hilarious to read about. She also thinks up clever schemes to humiliate
and annoy her enemies, especially Chief Counselor Sharpmack, who really wants
Rizka to leave. Rizka does many tricks on him.
I loved this story! Rizka is witty and her tricks always work. It is hilarious
to see what happens to people when she does her tricks. This is a well-told
story and is one anybody could really sink their teeth into!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewed by Angie
The Hobbit
By J.R.R. Tolkien
The choice to go willingly or be forced on a long journey far from the safety
of his hobbit-hole was one Bilbo Baggins wished any other hobbit but him was
making. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit well into his 50s was the one hobbit that the
wizard Gandalf chose to help 13 dwarves take back their kingdom on “The
Lonely Mountain”. The mountain was taken over by Smaug the (very ill tempered)
dragon. Throughout their journey the dwarves and Bilbo went through many obstacles
such as trolls, goblins, a gremlin, elves, lake-men, and ultimately Smaug the
dragon.
During the journey Bilbo was constantly wishing he was at home by the fire in
his little hobbit-hole, and that none of this had ever happened. The prospect
of there being gold in the mountain didn’t change his mind in the least
bit. The fact was that Bilbo was a very timid hobbit with an extremely huge
task before him and wasn’t sure that he could accomplish it.
Reviewed by Zelle
Marie Antoinette:
Princess of Versailles
By Carolyn Meyer
Have you ever wondered what being royal would be like? If so, this is the book
for you (actually series). The royal diaries features stories on famous royal
princesses, queens, and archduchesses from Elizabeth I to a warrior princess
of Africa.
What if you were twelve and already engaged to someone you have never met! Antonia
(Marie Antoinette) doesn’t like all the rules, rules, and rules about the
French court etiquette. Some times she wishes she could have been a child forever.
This book shows a lot about how life was for women in the 1700s. It is really
interesting and I give it 4/5 stars.
Reviewed by Alicia
Starry, Starry
Night
By Lurlene McDaniel
This is a collection of three holiday stories. In each story, a girl wishes
on a star. In the first story, “Christmas Child”, Melanie gets a baby
sister like she wanted – but the baby only lives a few days. In “Last
Dance” Brenda can make a dying boy happy – but she would have to give
up her chances with a boy she really likes. Finally, in “Kathy’s Life”,
everything is going wrong for Ellie, and she wishes she had a life like Kathy
– until she discovers that Kathy has problems of her own. Read this book
to find out if each girl’s wish comes true. These are really touching stories
and I really liked all of them.
Reviewed by Kathryn
What Child
Is This
By Caroline B. Cooney
What is the true meaning of Christmas? The social worker tells Katie, who is
in foster care, that Christmas is about little things. But Katie wants something
big; she wants a family. Matt, Katie’s foster brother, doesn’t believe
that her wish will ever come true. But he writes her wish on a paper bell to
put on the Christmas tree (a tree covered with paper bells. On each bell is
a foster child’s Christmas wish) where he works. Will Katie’s wish
come true? Read this book to find out.
Reviewed by Emily
What
Janie Found
by Caroline B. Cooney
I finally finished the series and wasn’t disappointed. I started with The
Face on the Milk Carton, and read all the way through the series. The Voice
on the Radio was my favorite book in the series. The books were exciting at
times, and interesting at other times, but never boring. What Janie Found was
an extremely well written book, and a great conclusion to the series. If you
like fiction that’s written like nonfiction and is real exciting, I think
you would enjoy Caroline B. Cooney’s Janie series.
Reviewed by Brandon
This movie is very tense and cool and I loved it. I could watch it again. It’s about a man trying to save his sister named Anne who is on a mountain in a huge hole, and an avalanche had covered it. Anne was down there with two other guys. One was an evil man and the other was a nice man, but he could not move. This was because when he fell into the hole, he fell on his back, and hurt his back. Anne and the nice guy were coughing up blood. Now Anne’s brother has to try to get to her where it is way, way below freezing, and the avalanches are very bad. They also have to carry bombs to blow away the ice to get to his sister, and the bombs leak in the sun! Will they make it? Many do not, but I will not say whom. Watch it to find out!
Reviewed by Danielle
Special Thanks To:
Animated.gif(c)Kitty Roach
A Publication of the Young Adult Advisory
Board at the Farmington Community Libraries
© 2002 Farmington Community Library
