Emiline's Frankenstein Book Report

Emiline's Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

     Victor Frankenstein is a young medical student who wishes for one thing--to unlock the secret of life.  When he tries to create a living creature out of dead parts, disaster strikes!  The fiend he has created lashes out on his friends and family.  But why is the monster doing this?
     I loved all the sorrow and tragic events in this book.  I thought that it was really sad that the monster killed Victor's bride on his wedding day.  But even though the monster did this, he wasn't all bad, everyone was just really mean to him. I think Marry Shelley did a great job, I give Frankenstein 5 Monsters.  I recommend this book to all readers who love a thrill.

If you aren't quite ready for Frankenstein, then you should read This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel.  Its the first book in the series, The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein.

You can check out my review here:
http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2012/09/emilines-review-of-this-dark-endeavor.html

I made this trailer with iMovie!

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at 

A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

The Man Who Was Poe

by Avi

     Edmund and Sis's aunty promised to only be out for a couple of minutes; but, instead, she stayed gone for days.  The children began to starve.  Sis's stomach gets so empty that Edmund steps out to get something for them to eat.  When he gets back, Sis is gone.  A fine man by the name of Auguste Dupin agrees to help him find his sister.  Will they find her?  Read The Man Who Was Poe, coming July 2013.

     I thought everything in this book was wonderful.  Every part intrigued me.  The Poe connections were great.  I loved how Avi presented Edgar's character--brilliant.

To find out more about AVI and his books, please visit:

http://www.avi-writer.com/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

     In The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, there is a boy named hugo whose father died in a fire in a museum.  In the ruins sat an automaton.  Hugo believes it might save his life if he can fix it.  He things that it is a machine that can draw or write. Eventually, Hugo succeeds at fixing it and makes a new friend, too.

     The automaton drew a picture that had his new friend's godfather's signature at the bottom , so Hugo and his friend, Isabelle, try to figure out why it is there.  Will they succeed in their quest?  Find out in The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

     Selznick tells this story with beautiful pictures and words.  They pictures are kind of like a flipbook. They use motion to show what's going on in the story.  The words are also a big part of the story.  They show the dialogue and give great descriptions.

     I liked Hugo's natural talent with tinkering and I liked seeing him do it in the pictures.  I think you should read Hugo if you have a big imagination or think you would make a good engineer.  

~Emiline

Visit this website to find out more about this amazing book:

http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

Who I'd Vote For!

      I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President

Review by Marsh

     Oliver Watson is a strange, pathetic 7th grader, but what none of his classmates know is the has a huge, multi-billion dollar, underground empire--right under his bedroom floor.  He wants to enter the election for 8th grade president.  He has a few tricks up his sleeve . . .

     This book was super humorous, especially the descriptions of the teachers.  I also really liked that Oliver had a secret stash of Milk Duds in the out of order toilet.  My favorite character was Mr. Moorhead.  I loved the way Oliver played around with Moorhead's love life and how he tried to help him get a date with a woman who could ruin his life.

     This was a superb book.  I give it 5 Monsters.

“According to the fortune-cookie logic most people live by, the best things in life are free. That's crap. I have a gold-plated robot that scratches the exact part of my back where my hands can't reach, and it certainly wasn't free.”
― Josh Lieb, I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President

Here's a Great Video of Josh Lieb and Jon Stewart:

I got this book as a gift (hint, hint), but you can find it at your favorite Indie Bookstore.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

Marsh's MMGM Pick is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

by Jeff Kinney

     The Valentine's Day Dance is coming up and Greg is desperately trying to find a date.  Even the biggest losers in school have made connections to meet up with girls on the big night.  Good thing Greg's best friend, Rowley, is the social chairperson on student council and there just happens to be a girl who doesn't have a date either that is on the student council.  Will Greg get a date in time for the dance?

      This was a very humorous book like all the others in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  I enjoy how all of the main characters stay the same but Jeff Kinney always incorporates new characters into every new book.  What I loved most about this book was the ending, but I can't tell you what happens so you will just have to read the book to find out.

To find out more about Jeff Kinney and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series please visit:

http://www.wimpykid.com/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

My Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday pick is Goddess Girls: The Girl Games by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.

     In the last Goddess Girls book Artemis starts a Girls' Olympics. Everyone from different places around the world comes to compete.

     While Aphrodite searches for a Running Chiton (a special kind of toga), she stumbles upon a kitten and the goddess girls struggle to keep him secret from the rest of MOA.  Aphrodite worries that the kitten will like Persephone more than her.

     Meanwhile, Aphrodite meets a boy who wants to ride Pegasus and Artemis hears that Zeus might cancel the games!

     As you can see, there is ALOT  of drama taking place.  Will the best friends be able to make it through?

    I've really enjoyed this series of books. If you aren't quite ready for Percy Jackson or just want a shorter, but awesome series you should check out these books. I LOVE mythology and this series has really been inspiring.

LIKE the Goddess Girls on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/goddessgirlsbooks

Find out more about Joan Holub by visiting her site at:

http://www.joanholub.com/

Find out more about Suzanne Williams by visiting her blog:

http://www.suzanne-williams.com/books.html

     

Our 3rd Grade studied Greek Mythology and for one of my classes we got to write and present a monologue. Here's mine.

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

This is one of our favorite times of the year.  We would like to share some of our most SPOOKTACULARLY lovable MONSTERS with you!

This a a really fun HOP hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Diary Of A Bookworm. Please visit http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/spooktacular-giveaway-hop-50-gone.html

for a list of all the blogs participating.

We both love Vampires and Slayers, and Auntie Heather is one of our very favorites, so we are offering you guys an autographed copy of High School Bites by Heather Brewer!  This is the best of both! The Vampire's Story AND the Slayer's Story all in one!!

Here are the rules:

1.  Become a PUBLIC follower of the blog (so we can see you).

2. Leave a Comment on this post and include your email address.

ONE follower will win the book.

Good Luck,

the Monsters

In the meantime, check out Auntie Heather's Blog:

http://www.heatherbrewer.com/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

Marsh's MMGM is Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

     This week's MMGM is Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz.  Alex's Uncle has died.  Alex always thought his uncle worked at a bank, but it turds out he was really a spy.  When he goes to the funeral, the agency (called M16) that hired Alex's uncle is there.  They want Alex to finish his Uncle's last mission.

     I think this is a good MMGM pick because the Alex Rider series is very popular with middle grade students and because everyone loves a good ole spy novel.  I loved the settings in this book, especially the museum where Britain's Prime Minister activates the Storm Breakers. (Read the book to find out what this mysterious object is.)  This book had some of the most sinister villains I ever encountered through my journey as a reader.  If you know someone who doesn't like to read, some one who thinks all books are slow-paced, try suggesting this book to them.  They are sure to love it.

Marsh

Here is a link to find out more about the author, Anthony Horowitz, and the Alex Rider Series.

http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/stormbreaker.html

Marsh Reviews The Slayer Chronicles: Second Chance

The Slayer Chronicles: Second Chance

By Heather Brewer 

     Joss’s slayer family has found out that he took on a secret mission to kill Vlad Tod.  Unless he completes a quest to find and kill a vampire serial killer, they will have to kill him.  He finds out it’s a ring of brothers who are the killers.  Can he defeat the vampires?  Can he stay in the society?

 My Response:

     This was an intense book, especially during the action and emotional scenes.  I really like how all the emotional parts are deep and you can relate to them.  I really liked how the main character, Joss, had many good personality traits.  He is smart, courageous, smart and brave.  I also enjoyed the plot of the book and how it tied into Vlad Tod. 

     I think Heather Brewer’s writing is very original and her books are not like any of the other vampire and slayer books on the market.  Her writing is very witty and well planned.  I loved this book and I give it 5 Monsters.

Please visit Auntie Heather's Blog to find out more about this series and her other books.  Be warned: She's Awesome!

http://www.heatherbrewer.com/index.php

This is me meeting Auntie Heather at The Decatur Book Festival.

Emiline's Review of Eighth Grade Bites

Eighth Grade Bites (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1)

by Heather Brewer

Review by Emiline

Vlad isn’t a normal boy; he’s a vampire.  His parents are dead.  He lives in a small town where people are being abducted mysteriously.  Vlad’s teacher is missing and his substitute is very intriguing.  Vlad stays cautious when he’s around the sub, Mr. Otis, because he is bound to discover his secret. 

One day, Vlad finds a letter from his father that could answer the questions about his parent’s deaths.  To find out what happens next, read Heather Brewer’s Eighth Grade Bites.

I liked that Vlad wasn’t a super popular kid and that he faces challenges that real kids face.  I also liked that Brewer seems to pour all of her emotion into the book.  I also really liked that even though Vlad is a vampire, he is not vicious or cruel.

I read every chance I get!  This is a picture of me reading in the carpool line.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by: Emiline

Even the smallest of doors can unlock big mysteries and grave danger… 

 Coraline finally has something exciting happen in her dull life, but not necessarily a good exciting. She opens a doorway to the other world where her “other mother” is.  Her “other mother” is a gruesome creature who tries to keep her in the other world.  She is so malicious that she locks Coraline’s parents up where Coraline can not find them. 

Will Coraline escape the other world?

MY THOUGHTS…

     First of all, I would recommend Neil Gaiman’s Coraline to readers who seek spooky books.  Coraline’s adventure are full of scary twists and creepy creatures.  I liked how one of the creatures told Coraline that she could have everything she wanted when she was in the other world.  But Coraline replied, “I don’t want everything I want.” I love the way she reacts to people.

I give Coraline  FIVE MONSTERS!!!!!!