Biographies

Autobiographies, Biographies and Memoirs (books about real people)Reviews written by middle-school students







Abraham Lincoln A Life, by Thomas Keneally
Reviewed by Rebecca R.
Abraham Lincoln had a very complicated life. His story begins in 1809 in the United States. Abraham was not very well-off growing up. He slept in a log house on a mattress made of cornhusks. His father's name was Tom. His mother's name is unknown. Tom moved the family from place to place. Lincoln’s family was very much against slavery. When Lincoln was growing up his family was not very involved in politics although they did have strong opinions. One time, his cousins visited him and his family. His mother got sick while they were staying and she died. One of Abe's cousins stayed him while his other relatives went away. Abe and his cousin became good friends. Abe's mother did not get a proper ceremony for her funeral. She was put in a handmade casket made by her husband and it was put in the woods. Whenever Abe felt sad he would always visit her and talk to her as if she could talk back.
Later on, Tom married another woman. A few years later, Abe grew up and moved out. Unlike the others in his family, he was interested and wanted to be involved in politics. He studied many political writings including and especially The Declaration of Independence. Abe joined many political groups and movements. He was still very much against slavery. He always had wondered why people had married, but later he met a woman named Mary and married her. They had a child who died of tuberculosis. A few years later they had two more children. Another died again from a disease. After much studying and researching of politics, Abe ran for election.
He was very good at giving talks, but many people saw him as a new and inexperienced person. He still made it through the election somehow. He was the Republican candidate and he was going against the Democratic candidate in the last round of the election. The votes were counted and he won. Not much later there was a rebellion from the South, which turned into the Civil War. To see how Lincoln dealt with the war and how his life later ended you will have to read the book yourself.
I would rate this as 3 stars because I think it was very well written. It was interesting and exciting. I also think that it is hard to write an interesting book about somebody who many people already know about. I personally was not the biggest fan because I do not like biographies, but maybe you will have something different to say about it.

Abraham Lincoln, His Life and Times, by Richard Stengal
Reviewed by Josh B.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt--Abraham Lincoln.This book is a biography of the 16th President of the U.S.A., Abraham Lincoln. It begins when he would walk 12 miles to get a book from the library, and ends when he gave freedom to the slaves of America. He was born on February 19th, 1809, and was assassinated on April 15, 1865. Abe’s first love died at age 22 from typhoid fever. He later met Mary Todd whom he ended up marrying. He had four sons but only one lived to adulthood, Robert Todd Lincoln. His first job had nothing to do with politics; he first bought a general store in New Salem, Illinois. We was also a rail-splitter and a flat boatman. On November 16th, 1860, he was elected as the 16th President. The Civil War started on April 12th, 1861, when Confederate forces fired upon Union troops at Fort Sumter. Lincoln quickly responded as Commander-in-Chief. After the war he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who thought he would be a hero in the South. This book gives unbelievable detail and views about Lincoln’s life. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 for great information and great detail.


Alexander the Great, by John Gunther
Reviewed by Leah M.
Alexander the Great did many great things, as his name implies. He conquered most of the Mediterranean region in 13 years without losing a battle. Alexander began conquering the world at the age of 20 after his father Phillip, king of Macedonia, was murdered. Alexander loved his father, but later in life he hated him. Alexander was happy to receive the throne and take on the Greeks. He won this battle, and then he went on to the "wimpy" Persians. He won all of the wars against the mighty, honorable king of Persia, King Darius the Third. All around the Mediterranean region, he kept conquering flawlessly. During this time, Alexander started to drink. The name Alexander the "Great" doesn't mean he was always great. When he was drunk, he killed his best friend and comrades. He never stopped mourning, but he knew he needed to go on, for those whom he killed. Once he conquered everything possible, he stopped drinking. He wanted to unify the Greeks and the Asians so he married an Asian woman. He had a satisfying life up until the point when he caught a cold. This great man couldn't get over a cold but he survived a weapon in his neck and a weapon in his rib. He felt better one day and went to eat, and he ate meat. He got worse and got a very high fever, and later he went into a coma. On June 28th, 323 CE, Alexander the Great died. His last words were, "To the strongest." He was answering the question, "Who will succeed you?" After he died, his mother Olympias was horrified and killed all of Alexander's sons and wives. Alexander the Great conquered everything but himself, the most important part.
I rate this book three stars because it was boring but informative. I learned that Alexander the Great wasn't always so great. He loved, then hated. Alexander found happiness in the world with his wives and with his children. If he would have lived longer, he might have met a worse death. Who knows? Alexander the Great is an interesting topic and this book covers him perfectly.



Alexander the Great, by Robert Green
Reviewed: Ari D.
In his short life Alexander was a great conqueror and leader some even thought he was god. Alexander was the son of King Philip the II and Olympias. His father hired Aristotle to be his personal tutor. Aristotle taught Alexander science, literature and philosophy. Alexander conquered most of the Middle East and parts of Africa and India. After awhile of people calling him a god he started to believe it himself. Alexander also thought he was related to the great Greek hero Achilles. While Alexander was at war with Darius he won the battle. However, Darius the III escaped leaving his mother, wife and daughters. Later Darius was killed by his own soldiers. Alexander hunted them down and executed them himself. He later married one of Darius`s daughters. The biggest challenge for Alexander and his army had been the Indian elephants. But, after a long battle his army finally caused the Indians to surrender and he treated them with complete respect. Today, Alexander is considered one of the greatest military leaders for his tactics and skill on the battlefield.

I give this book 5 out of 5 because it had good information and was very intriguing. The book is excellent for someone who would be interested in military leaders and warriors.

Alexander the Great and His Claim to Fame, by Phil RobinsReviewed by Ari H.
Have you ever seen those movies where some guy tries to take over the world? Well there is one man in real life that came pretty close to doing just that. In Alexander the Great and his Claim to Fame, read everything you ever wanted to know about the great man from Macedonia.
In July, 356 BCE, in Pella, the capital city of Macedonia, a small child was born to Olympia and Phillip, the rulers of Macedonia to great rejoicing. At that time, no one knew just how special that boy would be. No one would have guessed that little Alexander would change the world.
Philip wanted a successful successor so when he was old enough Alex was sent to the school of Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher, where he could get the best education at the time. Philip had attained a vast amount of impressive achievements during his time on the throne. Among them were strengthening the Macedonian army, inventing new weapons, and gathering armies to conquer Asia Minor. So as you might have guessed, Alex had a lot to live up to; but even as a small boy he was showing signs that he was perfect for the task. He started small by training a horse no one else could. Then, he went on to conquer a tribe that was causing trouble during his father’s absence, and soon he was eyeing much more than just Asia Minor. He had his mind set on all of Asia.
When Alexander took the throne after his father’s death, he started by sending fleets of troops to Asia Minor, where he won war after war. He conquered the Persian Empire, and before he knew it, he was all the way in India facing an enemy much stronger than the rest. The Indian army had huge grey animals never seen before by the Macedonians, that could kill men just by stepping on them. These animals carried so many men it was hard to count. Alexander’s army was outnumbered, outweaponed, and outelephanted. Yet even with these odds against them, they screamed the usual Macedonian battle cry, but something was different. Fear. The confidence from the many wars they had fought together was gone, replaced by the fear of an impossible enemy.
I leave you with the oncoming war looming above the heads of the Macedonian army, defeat lurking in the shadows close at hand, and the question of who will be the next victim. To find out, read Alexander the Great and His Claim to Fame.
I rate this book five stars because it is a fun read that gives a lot of information about Alexander the Great and how he became so famous.



Alexander the Great by Robert Green
reviewed by Gabe Y.
If you like conquering and fighting between people then this is a good book for you. Alexander was born in Pella, the capital of Macedonia, in 356 B.C.E.
Alexander had a tutor by the name of Aristotle in 343 B.C.E. Alexander served as a ruler in Macedon while his father, Phillip the 3rd was in Byzantium . This story begins in 490 BCE when Athens defeated the Persians, which led to a marathon of battles. Much later, Alexander the Great comes along. He conquered the most people and land in the history of the world. Alexander’s mother, Queen Olympias, always had faith in him because of his bravery and all the places he had conquered. Alexander the Great was like the people's god because he was so powerful. After he died, people knew him for all his accomplishments and being known as one of the best conquerers in the world. He was able to to make many of his enemies his friends. This is one reason for the growth of his empire. Unfortunately the unpredictable happens at the end.


Who was Albert Einstein?, by Jess Brallier
This was a fairly good book. Out of five stars I would rate it a four because at times this book can be boring. But usually it is very interesting, and I learned a lot about Albert Einstein. Before I read this book, I never knew that the project for the atom bomb was called the Manhattan Project, or that at a young age, Albert Einstein had scarlet fever. I learned about Mr. Einstein from when he was a baby to when he died. He was born in Württemberg, Germany, on May 14, 1879. He came to America because during World War II, Hitler wanted Albert Einstein dead because he was so smart and a Jew. He had so many accomplishments throughout his life. When he was in school, his teachers didn’t like him because he asked too many questions. Can you believe that? This biography explains Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity--I never knew what it meant. Like I said before, there are many different things I learned about Albert Einstein from this book. I would recommend it.
By Harrison B.

Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity, by Robert Cwiklik
Albert Einstein was a very smart man who was offered many prestigious jobs and developed the equation that won us the war in Japan. Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879. He went to school in Munich, Germany, and to [[#|college]] in Zurich, Switzerland. In college he studied to be a physics teacher and later earned a degree in medicine. He was eventually considered the best professor in Switzerland. When he started his career, he improved upon the rules of Newton and then everyone called him a genius. In 1905 he developed the Theory of Relativity (E=mc square) and people began to understand more about machines that released radioactive material. In 1921 he won the Nobel [[#|Prize]] for his discovery of the law of photoelectric effect, and he definitely deserved it. The U.S. government used his equation to develop the atomic bomb. In 1948 he was chosen to be the new president of Israel, but he declined. This book is great but only if you understand science. I give it five stars because I love science and this book is the perfect length for me.
By Amos E.

Albert Einstein Citizen of the World, by William Wise
Albert Einstein Citizen of the World is a fantastic novel summarizing Albert Einstein’s life. It talks about the anti-Semitism, poverty, sorrow and fame that he encountered. Einstein was born in 1879 and died in 1955. He lived in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. Albert was a strange child; he was nothing like his sister Maya. Albert didn’t like the things other boys his age liked and hated war. When he grew up he was very poor but then he discovered many scientific equations that would change history, although not all for the good, like helping build the atomic bomb. The discovery that got him well known throughout the world was the Theory of Relativity. Once that was proven Einstein become very famous, but since he was Jewish, not all people liked him, including the Nazis. It was interesting to read how a Jew struggled to get a job and when he became famous, some people wanted to kill him. Read the book to find out what Einstein’s life was like. For a biography, I would rate Albert Einstein Citizen of the World five out of five stars. Each chapter was about something interesting.
By Benji J.



Amazing Gracie, by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff
Reviewed by Emily B.
Do you like dogs? Amazing Gracie is a biography of three dogs, Sarah, Dottie, and most important Gracie. There are also their two owners, Mark and Dan. In the beginning of this book, Dan’s dog, Blue, had died eight weeks ago. Meanwhile, his friend Anne, just got a Great Dane puppy. She finds out that her puppy’s sister is going to be put down and begs Dan to at least look at her. He falls in love with her and decides to keep her. She is half blind and deaf, but she has the bluest eyes. It turns out that Gracie was born eight weeks ago and Dan thinks that maybe Blue didn’t want him to be without a dog. The next day, Dan takes Gracie to the vet, Dr. Benjamin, who calls Gracie a little miracle. He explains that when the breeder went to Dr. Benjamin to get Gracie’s ears cropped, she died before he started the surgery. He tells Dan that he never gave up hope and he was able to bring her back to life. A while later, Dan realizes that Gracie has a lot of fun playing with Byron, the dog next door. When Byron and his owner move, Gracie is depressed and won’t eat anything. Dr. Benjamin tells Dan to bake something homemade and instructs him not to add any sugar, salt, or chocolate. However, Dan doesn’t know how to cook. Dr. Benjamin tells him to start with something simple. He decides to make cookies and Gracie loves them, as do Dottie and Sarah. Dan cooks day after day for Gracie and slowly he gets better at cooking. On New Years Eve, Dan bakes cookies for all his guests. The next morning he gets a million phone calls saying that their dogs loved his cookies and that he should open a bakery for dogs. So he does. Slowly his bakery becomes more popular, until Gracie and Dan’s bakery becomes so famous that they star on Oprah. Soon after, they get their own TV show, and open three more stores. Time passes, and Gracie gets older, until one day, when she went to sit down, she fell. It gets worse and worse. Eventually, she can’t walk. Then one morning Dan comes down and finds Gracie sitting in her own waste and knows her time is up. Sadly, Dan put his face in her warm fur for the last time and said… Good night Gracie
I give this book five stars. This book is amazing. I love how it always makes you want to read more. Also I love how the author puts so much emotion into it. The author is the one who owns Gracie and there are even pictures of Gracie in the book. (This story is TRUE!!!) The book is about her life not her death, so I didn’t tell much of her life because you need to read about it!!! I would definitely read this book again.



Archimedes, by Heather Hasan
Reviewed by Noah S.
This is a great biography that taught me so much about one of the greatest
mathematicians of all time. This book tells about the life and achievements of
Archimedes, who was one of the most intelligent and brilliant people of all time. He was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer. He was born in Syracuse, Sicily, in around 287 BCE and died 212 BCE in Syracuse at age 75. Some of his greatest accomplishments include the Archimedes' Principle,
Archimedes screw, and the Claw of Archimedes. The Archimedes' Principle is a method for determining the volume of an object with an irregular shape. Archimedes developed it when he was asked
by King Hierro II to determine if some silver had been substituted by a dishonest
goldsmith. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating because it gave lots of helpful information, but it was a little bit boring, because the
writing was pretty dull. Also his life was a quite boring, but I would recommend this
because it really helps you understand Greek history and how advanced mathematics
was back then.

Archimedes: The Father of Mathematics, by Heather HasanReviewed by Ezra B.
Archimedes was born in 287 BC in Syracuse, a town on the island of Sicily that was ruled by the Greeks at that time. Very little is known about Archimedes, and he never wrote about his own life. He had a friend named Heracleides who wrote about Archimedes once, but the information was lost. His path to mathematics was most likely influenced by his father, Pheidias, who was a great astronomer and mathematician. He was also influenced by many other great scientists, which led him to study fields such astronomy, physics, music, military strategy, and weaponry. When he was older, he traveled to Alexandria to study. There he became lifelong friends with two men: Conon of Samos, and Eratosthenes of Cyrene (who later became head of the famous Library of Alexandria). After his studies there, he returned to Syracuse, where he spent the rest of his life.
Archimedes accomplished many things during his lifetime. He was known as the Father of Mathematics because of his skill in arithmetic. In theoretical mathematics, he researched things like gravity, buoyancy, and the area of circles, leading to his approximate value of pi. In applied mathematics, he invented devices in a variety of areas. He created a contraption that raises water out of the ground—the Archimedean screw--which works using a twisted structure that you rotate, lifting water up from its source. He also invented a system of ropes that could lift very heavy things (the compound pulley).To defend the city of Syracuse, he invented a very powerful catapult to launch huge stones over the walls, and a long iron claw, which was used to grab hold of enemy ships to destabilize or capsize them. The devices helped Syracuse to hold off the Roman general Marcellus for two years during the Second Punic War. Eventually the city was taken, and Archimedes was killed despite an order from Marcellus not to harm him.
I rate this book a 5 out of 5. It is full of everything you need to know about Archimedes, and it did a great job of explaining all the scientific concepts.

The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank, by Anne Frank, typed by Otto Frank (autobiography)
This loving story of a young girl named Anne Frank took place in the year 1942 in Amsterdam, Holland. Anne was thirteen when she began writing in her diary. I have always loved holocaust stories, but Anne Frank's was much different from those I've read as well as heard about. During a part of the Holocaust, Anne, her family, and some friends were hiding in an annex-small building connected to a larger one- of a business friend for little over two years. What surprised me was that Anne had written in her diary practically every day so you really got to know her and her life, which is probably why I like this book so much. With every entry Anne wrote, you end up looking for personal information about her and feel sympathy because of the conditions she lived in and her isolation, even if she was far luckier than many people who were in the Holocaust. Anne further astonished me because in her writing, she was very honest and even all the extremely embarrassing moments and thoughts she had, were written down. I also love this book because it is about a girl who is around my age, so I could understand how lonely she must have felt and her viewpoints on many things. This was an amazing and interesting book, I would suggest it for any age!
By Alexandria G.

Anne Frank – by Anne Frank – edited by Otto H. Frank and Mirjam Pressler
Anne Frank is an autobiography about a thirteen-year-old girl who wrote in her diary in hiding during the Holocaust. On June 12, 1942, Anne Frank started writing in her diary. Anne and her family hid in the Annex (the attic of an office building) with another family in Amsterdam. The families that were in hiding had to be very quiet so that the Nazis wouldn’t figure out that they were hiding upstairs. The Annex’s door was covered with a bookcase to disguise the opening. Miep Gies and Mr.Kraler, two Dutch friends of the Franks, helped them hide. In the two years that Anne was hiding, she wrote in her diary. She wrote about her love for Bep and what life was like being in the Annex. The Annex was a small attic with two stories. There was a kitchen, three bathrooms and separate places to sleep. It was hard to live in the Annex because it was small and the families had to be quiet the whole time. It was also scary to live in the Annex because Anne and her family and the other family always heard gun fire. I enjoyed the book very much. I found it interesting to read about what life was like for Anne. I would rate this book three stars.
By Max.F

Barack Obama our 44th President, by Beatrice Gormiley
On August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Ann and Barack Obama had a boy that they named Barack Hussein Obama. Barack Obama’s parents met at University of Hawaii. Soon after, they got married. Unfortunately that marriage didn’t work out. In 1964 they got divorced when Barrack Obama Jr. was only three years old. Soon after his parents’ divorce, Barrack Obama Jr. lived in Indonesia for a few years with his mom and her second husband Lolo, but then went back to Hawaii where his grandparents took care of him. When Obama was 27, he went to Harvard law school where he met his future wife Michelle. They where married in October 1992 and now have two daughters, Malia and Natasha. If you want to find out more interesting facts about Barack Obama and how he became president, then I recommend that you read this book, because it teaches you the life of our president and it is an amazing book.
By Sam E.


Benjamin Franklin, Young Printer, By Augusta Stevenson
Reviewed by Madelyn S.

It all started when Benjamin Franklin was eight years old. He was very smart for his age. He could read books of all kinds. His parents wanted to send him to school, but it was too expensive. His father finally earned enough money for Ben to go to Latin school. Every day he would learn Latin. Ben didn’t like the school so his father transferred him to a writing school, where the students would learn reading, writing, and math. Most of the students went to Ben for help with everything except math. After a couple of years in school, Ben started to work as an apprentice in his father's candle and soap business. However, he started to get bored. Since his brother James had started a printing business, Ben became his apprentice. After learning the trade, Ben was so good at it he decided to start writing articles himself. First, he didn’t tell James for he was afraid if James knew, he wouldn’t publish the articles. Then, one day he told James, who was very jealous that his younger brother was a wonderful writer. James started being harsh to Ben, who decided to run away. History books tell the story of the rest of his life, but this book makes the early years of Benjamin Franklin come to life.

Benjamin Franklin, by Tom Streissguth

This book starts out in the busy city of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1683, when the Franklins emigrate from England. The book is about the life of Benjamin Franklin. He is born on January 17, 1706. As a child he loved to read and invent things. At age 12 he goes to his older brother’s print shop to be his apprentice. In 1723 he leaves the shop and goes to Philadelphia. As Benjamin’s life continues he gets wealthier and smarter. Finally he works in the Congress and helps the Colonies win the Revolution. This is a slow read until the last 20 pages because the war is exciting and the Colonials start to win. Tom Streissguth explains Benjamin Franklin’s whole life in 102 pages. If inventions, politics and the American Revolution fascinate you, this is the book for you. I rate it only a 3 out 5 because I thought the book was quite slow in the beginning and the middle.
By Jacob S.


Beware, Princess Elizabeth, by Carolyn Meyer
Elizabeth is 12 years old and lives in England with her father and her brother. When Princess Elizabeth’s father dies, she doesn’t know what to do. She wasn’t close to her father but she still loved him. And when her little brother Edward becomes king, she has hope that things will be OK. But he soon becomes very ill and dies. Elizabeth’s older sister is then supposed to be crowned queen but Elizabeth’s cousin Jane Grey becomes queen instead because that’s what Edward put in his will. His advisors told him to and he was too young and sick to argue. Jane is soon overthrown and Mary becomes queen. Elizabeth hates her sister because Mary is rude to her. Mary is Catholic and makes Elizabeth attend Mass daily but Elizabeth is Protestant and won’t give it up. When Mary suspects that Elizabeth is behind a plan to overthrow her, she puts Elizabeth in prison. Elizabeth is there for a while and she hates her sister more than ever now. When Mary gets married and is said to be pregnant, Elizabeth gets scared. She’s waited so long to become queen but this child might get the throne instead. Mary doesn’t have a baby and lets Elizabeth go back to her house. When Mary insists that Elizabeth marry, she refuses because she doesn’t want to. Elizabeth doesn’t want to get married but still wants to be queen. Will Elizabeth become queen?

I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because it’s a little complicated and hard to understand at some points. Other than that it’s a good book.

by Emily G

Chasing Lincoln's Killer, by James L. SwansonReviewed by Ruthie C.
John Wilkes Booth. What do you think when you hear that name? Lincoln's killer, right? But you don't know the details, do you? All you know is that Lincoln was shot in a theater by Booth. Well, there is so much more to the story. For one thing, did you know that Booth and his followers had to hide in bushes for days on end to keep from being caught? Or that Lincoln wasn't the only one targeted on that fateful day? Chasing Lincoln's Killer tracks Booth and his accomplices from the moment that the assassination idea is planted into their minds, to the day of their demise. I would give it 4.5 stars because I loved how exciting and factual it is. The best part is that every single thing in the book is true! Using quotes, manuscripts, and evidence found during the investigation of the murder of our president, James L. Swanson makes the dated story of John Wilkes Booth come to life and blends it together into a marvelous page- turner which will have you on the edge of your seat.


The Color of Water, by James McBride (Memoir)
This book is a double memoir, one half consisting of the memories of James McBride and the other half, the memories of his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan. James' half consists of his recollections about his childhood; growing up black with a white mother. Ruth's half consists of her recollections about her life; growing up Jewish, being abused, falling in love with a black man (twice!), and turning towards Christianity. I would never have read this book if it hadn't been assigned for summer reading, but I don't think I would have been missing out on too much. If I give this book a rating out of ten, it's maybe a seven and a half. If you like biographies you'll probably like this, but I didn't because I don't.
by Anne P

Doomed Queen Anne, by Carolyn Meyer
Anne Boleyn started off without much beauty and wealth, and no popularity at all, but she was always ready to fight. Although, during the 1500’s, this might be tougher than she thought. She had a sister, Mary, who was the favored of the Boleyn family. Mary was always better than Anne in everything, and Anne knew it. They both spent their childhood in France, always dreaming that they would become Queen of England, and marry the young and handsome King Henry VIII. Anne always pictured herself waving to all of England in gorgeous gowns and real ruby jewels. She then moved to England to work at Queen Catherine’s court. As she grew older, she became much more beautiful, and attracted all the men at court. She soon realized that King Henry and Catherine were fighting. Anne knew that there was no more room for Queen Catherine in his heart anymore. When she saw King Henry looking at her, she knew that she had to strike. This is a thrilling story of a young woman trying to win the heart of King Henry, but when he is married to Queen Catherine, trust me, it won’t be easy.
My rating for this book is 4 stars. It has a very interesting plot, but sometimes it has too long explanations on certain things.
By Tamar C.



Elizabeth I, by Kathryn Lasky
Reviewed by Alexa U.
This story is based on the diary entries of Elizabeth I, princess of England. She is the daughter of King Henry VIII, and lives with her brother Edward, sister Mary, and governess Kat. She is known as the forgotten princess because she is fifth in line for the throne. She struggles because her mother was accused of being a witch, and got executed when Elizabeth was young. Her diary from the year 1544 gives the reader a taste of what it might be like to live the real life of a princess, good and bad.
The good things about being a princess are that you get to live in a palace and enjoy the riches of the royal family. You can buy all of the clothes and jewelry you want, and there are servants that attend to your every need. At a time when people are starving, you can eat anything you want. When you are a princess you get to travel and see the world, sleep on the softest beds and bathe every day.
Just because Elizabeth is part of the royal family, it does not mean that she is without problems of her own. The bad thing about being a princess is that she does not get to spend a lot of time with her family. She has conflicts and worries like any other person in England. For example, Elizabeth’s father is always busy with work, just like many other fathers. When he is home, he has to rule England. He has to make laws, lead the government, and control the army. Elizabeth feels that when her father has free time, he spends it with her siblings and leaves her out. She feels less important because she is fifth in line for the throne. Also, it is really hard for her to find friends, just like all people. Because she is a princess, she is often stuck in the palace. When she does meet someone, she is not sure if they are true friends, or they like her because she is a princess. These are things that everyone experiences.
I rate this book 5 stars for many reasons. I love that I can relate to the feelings of a princess. I am the oldest of my siblings, and my dad always has to make sure the little kids are okay. When he finally has some free time, he does not get to talk to me for long. I may not be a princess, but now I see that all human beings are the same on the inside. I also love how the author describes the characters in great detail. This really brought the characters to life. While I learned a lot of history, I also got a better idea of the personalities of these historical figures. This book made me realize that princess or not, people come across the same conflicts and worries that we all do. When I was little, I thought that princesses were perfect, but now I know that all human beings share some of the same feelings.



F.D.R., by Jean Edward Smith
Jean Edward Smith's, F.D.R., is a 650-page book summarizing Franklin Delano Roosevelt's life from childhood right up to his death. I thought the most interesting parts of this book were the sections on World War II. People who enjoy reading about strategy, battles, and politics will enjoy this part of the book. My least favorite part was the chapters describing his childhood and the time leading up to his presidency because it was very factual and the facts were not very interesting. I would not recommend this book to others because unless you are very committed to reading, it can get very boring (the finish line is not easily in sight). I would give this book a 3 out of 5 stars because while it was very long and boring at times, some parts were very interesting.By Elliot B.


Geronimo: My Life, told to S.M. Barret
Geronimo was born in No-Doyohn Canon in Arizona in June 1829. He had seven other siblings. Many of his siblings died at a very young age. He worked with his father in the fields planting and harvesting many crops. Geronimo was a very good hunter. He hunted deer, turkey, rabbits, bears, eagles and lions. His grandfather Maco was a chief. His father died when he was a boy. When he turned seventeen he was admitted to the council of the warriors, meaning he could do whatever he wants. He married a girl named Alope. During the summer of 1858 Mexican troops attacked the camp where Geronimo was living. His mother, his wife and his three children were killed in the attack. The Apaches teamed up with other tribes and attacked the Mexicans. They decided that Geronimo should be the commander and they defeated the Mexicans. He was then named the chief of his tribe. He attacked the Mexicans on several other occasions. The Mexicans attacked again but were not successful. The Mexicans and cowboys attacked the Apaches many different times. Over the years there were big battles. The Mexicans, the Indians and the Americans were all fighting each other. Battles lasted all day and many were killed. Geronimo agreed with General Miles that he would become the leader of the Apaches if the Indians and the Americans would be civil to one another. General Miles lied and the Indians and the Americans were not at peace. I liked this book and I would recommend it. I would give the book a 4-and-a-half out of 5.
Josh J.


Gandhi and the Struggle for India’s Independence,by F. W. RawdingReviewed by, Gabriella M.
On October 2, 1869, a hero was born. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born, in a little town called Porbandar. Porbandar is located in Western India, on the Kathiawar Peninsula. Gandhi believed in peace throughout the whole world and to save the earth and be good to it. Gandhi was very passionate about the truth. He once stole a golden coin from his older brother, but quickly returned it and confessed because the guilt was too much for him to handle. Because he could not bring himself to tell his ill father, Gandhi wrote a letter to his and gave it to him. His father was a huge role model and mentor throughout his life. In 1885, his father died. Although sad, Gandhi went to collage and passed all of his exams. Gandhi wanted to go to England to learn better English. His mother, Putlibai, was hesitant to let him go, afraid that he would eat meat, drink wine, and go out with the women. Gandhi, about nineteen, set off to England, not quite knowing how it would be and if they would accept him and Hinduism.
In England, Gandhi dressed in the most expensive and fashionable clothing. He was fascinated by the theaters, music, and dancing. Gandhi went to study Law and the London Matriculation. He went to church to listen to sermons, learned about the English, Buddha, and studied the New Testament.
Gandhi returned to India unpleased to see its great failure. The Indians were treated horribly. They were treated like slaves - living on the streets and bathing in the rivers. Civil disagreement broke out. Some rebelled against the sepoys, some were loyalists. Once again, the British were causing trouble in the world. Gandhi, extremely upset by this, fought for civil rights in a nonviolent way. By simply disobeying orders and unfair laws, Gandhi inspired the world with his nonviolent actions.
★★★★
I rate this book four stars. It is a little bit confusing, but teaches me a great deal about Indian history. The book teaches me a lot about Gandhi and his points of view of life.

These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Reviewed by Emma D.
When Laura Ingalls starts to teach school in her American prairie town, the students are older than she is! The one thing that gets her through is that every Friday, she is driven home in a cutter sled by her family friend, Almanzo. He swears that the 10 mile trip is no trouble, but Laura knows better. But after she sees Almanzo in his cutter with Nellie, does he still love her? And when Laura has to make the decision of a lifetime, what will she choose? I give this book five stars. This book is written in the third person but is based on a true story about pioneer times.


Harry Truman, by Robert Dallek
Robert Dallek's Harry Truman was an interesting book on Truman's time
in politics from 1935 to 1953. From a farm in a small town, to the oval office in Washington, this book covers it all. It is overflowing with information about Truman, like the fact that he was a captain in the Army during World War I. It's also about the events that changed history through the time period he was alive. The book goes into great detail about his decision to drop the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities and it interviews his advisors about it. I liked the book because I found the history part of it intriguing and Robert Dallek's writing was great. He provided interesting new ways to look at American history and the Cold War. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about World War II and the Cold War. I would rate it a four out of five for its interesting new perspectives on American history and for the writing style in the book.
By Elliot B.

Harry Houdini, by Viki Cobb

Many have heard about the amazing magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini, but few know his story. Ehrich Weiss was born into a Jewish family on March 24th, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary. He was the fourth of seven children and his father was a Rabbi. He and is family moved to Wisconsin in 1878, when Ehrich was four. His father could not find a job so they kept on moving and Ehrich didn’t attend school often. But his father made him promise that he would take care of his mother financially because he realized he was getting old and he knew he wouldn’t be around for much longer. Rabbi Weiss died on October 2, 1892. In 1888, a few years before his father died, Ehrich had changed his name to Harry Houdini, similar to the name of another great magician, Robert Houdin. He starts his career as a magician but soon his main act is escaping locks and handcuffs. He eventually becomes the Handcuff King. During this time, he finds it his duty to expose other magicians and the secrets to their tricks. He marries a woman named Bess Rahner and cares for his mother as much as possible. But as time goes on, his escapes get more and more dangerous. Can this lead to his death?
I give this book a 3 out of 5, because even though Houdini’s life was very interesting, it wasn’t really exciting just to read about it.
By Nita R.


Who Was Harry Houdini, by Tui T. Sutherland
This book is a biography about Ehrich Weiss AKA Harry Houdini. It is about his life from twelve years old to his death and is very interesting because of who it is about. You know Harry Houdini was a famous escape artist, but did you know he was also the first person to fly a plane in Australia. Or that he was the star in one of the first movies ever. The book is practically exploding with interesting facts. So read it and you will learn about one of the most famous people ever and enjoy it.
Adam R.

Helen Keller
Reviewed by Davi C.
Helen Keller is about a girl who got a horrible disease when she was very young, which made her deaf, dumb, and blind. Helen was always miserable and her parents didn’t know what to do with her. They couldn’t teach her to read braille or play with friends, they couldn’t teach her anything. They had no choice but to hire a tutor for her. The tutor taught Helen braille, how to read, how to write a letter, how to play, how to eat, etc. Helen’s tutor was also blind when she was a child so she knew what it felt like. It was better to have someone who knew what it felt like because she didn’t feel sorry for Helen. The tutor was able to teach her so much more because she was strict. When Helen had tantrums she was able to keep her under control. However, when Helen had tantrums in front of her parents, they felt so bad for her that they did nothing about it. They just let her sit there and scream. Helen improved so much with her tutor. This book tells you details about how Helen’s tutor taught Helen how to do everything she was able to do. I rate it a 3 out of 5 because I thought it did a really good job explaining how Helen, her parents, and the tutor felt about the whole situation. I thought that the book was a very easy reading book.

Henry VIII Royal Beheader, by Sean Stewart Price
Reviewed by, Rachel O.
Henry VIII, King of England was a wicked man. Some of his actions drove people to the edge. This book is about Henry’s life as the king of England, all of the troubles he faced, and how he dealt with them. He was born to King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York on June 28, 1491. After his father passed away he became king at the age of 18. In Henry VIII’s life, he was married to a total of six wives. Two of them were divorced by him, two were beheaded, one died and the remaining one survived. Henry had many troubles trying to father the perfect male heir. None of his wives could produce a healthy boy. Finally, his third wife, Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward, the future king. Henry died a fat, mean and disgusting old man at the age of 55, at 2 A.M., on January 28, 1547. I would give this book a rating of five stars because it really made me want to keep reading about this interesting man. Also, it made me want to learn more about his life. I think everyone should read this fantastic book.

Isaac Asimov, Master of Science Fiction, By Karen Judson
This book is a great biography of Isaac Asimov. The book is well written and covers Asimov’s entire life. But don’t fret, it is a quick read. It is very interesting to learn how the writer that created the genre (well, redefined it actually) learned and grew up to become the greatest science fiction writer. Now, the biography was good, but if you are wondering, “Why do I want to read this?” well, here’s why. Isaac Asimov worked all the time and never played or socialized. He went to school, did his homework, worked in his father’s store, and wrote stories, all in his childhood. He received a Ph.D in biochemistry, and actually used plausible theories in his stories, including positronic brains, UFO’s, military vehicles that we use today, the idea that the moon was a bad thing to try to colonize, and that more testing needed to be done before we went there. Then Apollo 11 left with no problems. He was only proved right in the 70’s when Apollo 13 launched and went horrifically wrong. So if you seem interested in Isaac Asimov, go check out this book. You’ll love him from page 1.
By David T.

Jackie Robinson, by Harvey Frommer
Jackie Robinson is a great man. He was the first man to break baseball’s color barrier. A color barrier is when there has never been a black person in baseball. The way he broke baseball’s color line was when Branch Ricky, Dodgers’ head coach, was looking for a black pioneer. That’s when he came upon Robinson, and gave him a contract of $600 a month and a $3,500 signing bonus.
Throughout his [[#|career]], Robinson got into fights but never actually hurt anyone. Holding back his temper against racist players was a hard thing to do, but he managed not to get physical. Over time, more and more black players joined the MLB and white players got less and less racist. Robinson died on October 24, 1972 at 7:10 AM. He was only 53. Thanks to Robinson, 9% of the MLB is black. That may not seem high, but if it weren’t for Jackie, it would be 0% percent. On April 15th, every player in the MLB wears number 42 on their shirt, Jackie Robinson’s number. That was the day he had signed for the Dodgers.
I think that Jackie Robinson is a great person, but the book was sometimes hard it follow. I would give this book a 2.8/5.
By Jonathan S.

John Quincy Adams, By Paul C. Nagal
John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767. He was the eldest son to John and Abigail Adams. His father John Adams was the 2nd president. When he was a boy he traveled with his father to Europe. His father, John Adams, was the first president to live in the White House while John Quincy was the first child. When he ran for president he didn’t win nor lose. He really came in 2nd to Andrew Jackson, but since the votes were close the House of Representatives voted and he won. So he prepared himself to become the 6th president of the United States. John Quincy Adams helped make the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, which ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. John Quincy Adams founded the Smithsonian Institution, and in 1828 started building the first American railroad from Baltimore to Ohio. John Quincy Adams suffered from depression and had two strokes. The 2nd stroke finally killed him. I liked this book because it taught me a lot about John Quincy Adams and I did a report on him so I am interested in him. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
By Talia R.

Life at Her Fingertips, the Story of Helen Keller, by Joan Dash
Life at Her Fingertips is a biography of Helen Keller. She was born in 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When Helen was 19 months old, she had acute congestion of the stomach and the brain. The illness didn’t stay with her for a long time, but it left her blind and deaf. Helen’s parents found her a teacher by the name of Anne Sullivan, who used to be blind herself.
In the beginning of Helen’s learning experience, Anne lived in Alabama with the Kellers. Anne thought that in Alabama Helen had too many distractions, so she and Helen moved up north to Massachusetts where Helen would learn at the Perkins Institute. Helen started learning at the Perkins Institute in May 1888. Anne was actually an alumna of the Institute and thought very highly of the school for the blind. Then in 1894, Helen and Anne moved to New York so Helen could learn at Wright-Humason School for the deaf, and at the Horace Mann School for the deaf. 1896 was the year where they returned to Massachusetts and Helen started learning at the Cambridge School for young ladies. In 1900 Helen was accepted to Radcliff College, where she stayed until she graduated in 1904.
Anne married John Macy in 1905. After that Helen and Anne started taking national and international lecturing tours. Helen was not just known for being a pioneer in the deaf and blind communities, but also for being very left wing. She always supported socialism and birth control.
Any biography you will read about anyone will be interesting, however, this biography was exceptional. It is hard to believe how many different subjects Helen Keller was a pioneer in (for example women’s rights, and the rights of the blind). I would recommend this book to anyone and I have faith that they will love it.
By Mattan M.

Lives Of Famous Romans
Reviewed by Davi C.
Each chapter in this book tells about the life of a different famous Roman. It is very interesting to learn about their lives, families, educations, jobs, etc. My favorite one was Julius Caesar. I also enjoyed reading about Augustus Caesar and Cicero. This book is very helpful if you need to write a report about a famous Roman or if you just want to read it for pleasure. It tells you a lot of information on a lot of people. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because it gave me wonderful information.


The Courage Of Magic Johnson, Peter Pascarelli
Reviewed by Yasmin S.
Ever since the age of twelve, Magic Johnson dominated the basketball court. His real name is Earvin Johnson, but he was renamed Magic Johnson because of the amazing amount of points and rebounds he got on the court. Born on August 4, 1959, he grew up with nine siblings in the state of Michigan. In college, Magic Johnson was six foot nine and played as Michigan State’s point guard. After only two years in college, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him into the NBA in 1979. Throughout his whole career in the NBA he managed to win five championships. He had to retire because he was diagnosed with AIDS. After he announced that he had AIDS, more people became aware of the disease. At the same time, many people were very judgmental about his disease and they were also quite crude to him.
Overall, I think that this book did a good job explaining Magic Johnson’s life. I enjoyed how it showed that he fought through the rough times and thrived through the better times. In my opinion, I think The Courage Of Magic Johnson deserves five out of five stars. I suggest that other people, young or old, read this book to be more informed about Magic Johnson’s journey.



Mary Bloody Mary, by Carolyn Meyer
Mary is the daughter of the King of England, King Henry VIII. She has had many betrothals but hasn’t gotten married yet. When Mary is nine, her father spots one of her mother’s ladies in waiting. Her name is Anne. Mary’s father falls in love with Anne and decides that he wants to divorce Mary’s mother. King Henry wants a boy to rule after he dies and Queen Catherine, Mary’s mother, has not given him that. So he claims that his marriage with the Queen was not proper and when she refuses to divorce the King, things get ugly. Queen Catherine is determined to make Mary the queen someday and will die to make that happen. Even though Catherine refuses to get a divorce, that doesn’t stop Henry from marrying Anne. Once they are married, Mary is claimed a bastard, which means that she will not become Queen. When Anne gives birth to a girl instead of a boy, the king goes on a short killing spree, accusing anyone he can of something completely ridiculous. Mary becomes a servant to her younger half-sister but she still believes that she will become queen one day, even though it is forbidden for anyone to believe so. But the king will stop at nothing and neither will Mary.
I would give this book a 3.7 – 4 because I thought that the story was told too quickly and the author didn’t spend enough time on what happened in it.
Nita R.



Mary Tudor: Courageous Queen or Bloody Mary, by Jane Buchman
Reviewed by Elana K.
Mary Tudor was a strong figure in history, but treated her people poorly. She was born in 1516 at the Greenwich Palace in London, England. Mary had an awful childhood -- her parents got a divorce, her father took away her title as a princess, and her half- brother attacked her religious faith. Mary faced these issues and decided to take the crown. Mary was successful in this, and became the first queen of England. As queen, she planned to change the religion of England back to Catholicism -- the way it was before her half-brother ruled. However, Mary didn't do this in the kindest of ways. She burned Protestants at the stake for believing in a different religion. Although some people were afraid of her, Catholics hoped Queen Mary would return England to the "true faith." Mary was not successful at returning England to Catholicism permanently.
I enjoyed reading this book because Mary's life was very interesting. I give this book four out of five stars. I took away one star because although most parts of the book were exciting, some parts were boring. However, it is necessary for books to have some boring parts, because it makes the exciting parts more special. I liked how the book made me feel like I was the queen of England. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about this time period in history.

Nelson Mandela, by Reggie Finlayson (biography)
This book takes place in South Africa. It is about Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and his inspiring life story. It starts out on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo, in South Africa, when Nelson Mandela is born into the tribe of the Xhosa people. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, is a minor chief, like a mayor in his village, and his mother is one of four wives. Later on when Mandela is nine, his father dies, and Mandela and his mother leave the village. She gives Mandela to Jongintaba, a regent of the Thembu tribe, who looks after him and raises him. He runs away at around the age of 18 from Jongtintaba and goes to Johannesburg because he does not want an arranged marriage. Mandela gets educated at a University that only non-whites can attend. He meets some of the people in the African National Congress (ANC) who inspire him. He moves to a shantytown in Alexandria in Johannesburg where he meets Walter Sisulu. Later on, Mandela a gets a bachelor’s degree and through his friendship with Walter Sisulu he becomes part of the ANC. Mandela reads an article that changes his opinion of the government in South Africa and apartheid. Apartheid is discrimination against colored people and there are laws where colored people can only live in certain areas, work in certain jobs and have an inferior education. He and his friends create the Youth League of the ANC. Mandela plays a major role in the ANC and is partly responsible for ending apartheid. Mandela encouraged many South Africans during the times of apartheid to step up and to fight back. Sadly, many people were killed and hurt during the apartheid era and many non-whites were put in jail for many years. Mandela is a very inspiring man to many people worldwide. This is an amazing, tragic and inspiring story. I rate in 4 ½ out of five.
By. Jacob S.

NEWMAN, by Owen Chadwick
Reviewed by Mati Z.
John Henry Newman was born on February 21 1801 and died on August 11 1890. He was a famous author, leader, thinker, and cardinal. Previously a Protestant, he is known to have been accepted by a traveling Catholic priest on the road and become a Roman Catholic. He later became a priest himself and rose to the lofty position of cardinal. During his lifetime, people were beginning to believe that the Bible was not, in fact, true history. Since the Church had said it was all along, this greatly harmed the Church’s widespread popularity and acceptance. Though Newman was known not to be an outgoing person, he had several opinions that went against the Catholic Church. First of all, he all but condemned the Church’s treatment of Galileo. Though he was very religious, he did not believe that when science conflicts with religion or appears to, one should simply entirely shut out science and blindly pursue faith. Neither did he believe that religious texts are true history. He believed in science and history as well as religion. Not only was he a cardinal, leader, and author, but he was also a philosopher. In a time when new discoveries made it more difficult to believe fully in religion, he began to ask questions. Can you prove that God exists? In the 1700s, the answer was usually yes. Therefore the wise believe in God. In the 1800s, however, it was more controversial. If you cannot prove the existence of God, do the wise lose their beliefs? If not, is faith not subject to argument? And his most interesting question of all: what is faith?
This book gives a history of his life and his work. It also explores the acceptance of his ideas, Christian life at the time, and the Roman Catholic Church. Not only does it explore this but it goes even deeper, delving into the depths of Newman’s mind. In this intriguing account of John Newman’s life, Chadwick analyzes Newman’s faith, his ideas, and his knowledge. I would give this book four stars because it is very interesting and educational, it is not exceptional. Despite this, the author does a relatively good job of fitting everything together. All of the sections and chapters of the book flow smoothly and clearly, and though the book is not very long, Chadwick manages to fit a huge amount of material into his small, text-filled pages. This book is an intriguing book and holds a great deal of information about the nineteenth century. I would recommend this book to a teenager or adult who was interested in studying the 1800s and how the Church fared in the Age of Discovery.

Perfect Once Removed, by Phillip Hoose
Phil Hoose is a nine-year-old boy who has just moved from South Bend, Indiana.He thinks it’s just another one of his dad’s company moves, but it ends up turning his life around.

It’s 1956.Phil Hoose hates his new town of Speedway, Indiana.He is bullied and stalked by a seventh grader on the way home, his classmates call him a nerd, and his parents are too busy working to worry about him.When spring comes, his classmates start playing baseball at recess, but Phil doesn’t know how to play.Phil decides to do some research on baseball and he learns about the game.Then, something wild happens.Phil’s dad tells him his cousin is Don Larsen, a pitcher on the New York Yankees.Phil decides to write a letter to him telling him that he is his cousin.Don writes back saying that he is happy to know that he is his cousin and Don Larsen sends three tickets to Phil so he and his parents can go to a Yankees game in Chicago.After the game, Don gives his baseball hat to Phil.
After that, things begin to improve for Phil, but not completely.Over the summer, he joins a baseball league.His team is the Speedway Giants.With the help of his best friend and coach, Phil becomes an okay outfielder.At the end of the summer his coach gives him the chance to pitch. Phil goes up to the mound, winds up, pitches and hits the batter right on the shoulder.That was the last time he would pitch in a long time.In the early part of the school year, Phil would be the catcher in a lot of the school recess games.One time he got a little too close to the batter and got hit with the bat.He got twenty-two stitches and a cracked skull.Two days later he got a letter from Don Larsen and a baseball signed by all the 1956 New York Yankees!

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 and recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball.
David G.

Pocahontas, by Joseph Bruchac
We all know of the little Indian girl named Pocahontas and the English captain John Smith. We know they became great friends but what did they think of each other before they truly met? Pocahontas an 11-year-old girl sees the English “coat men” set up Jamestown in 1607. She is puzzled by their ways and always asks questions about their lifestyle and doubts them being human. John Smith sees the Native Americans as salvages and only wants food for his people from them.
I rate this book four stars. It shows the points of view from two opposites and showed the struggles of sharing land. The author puts you in Jamestown or in the court of Mamanatowic the great Powhatan. The book gives a good idea of Pocahontas’s early life with the English and doesn’t cover her later life but it is an amazing story of bravery and curiosity.
By Solomon F.



Pythagoras: Pioneering Mathmetician and Musical Theorist of Ancient Greece
Reviewed by: Dori H.F.
Today we know the name Pythagoras as the man who developed the Pythagorean Theorem. Pythagoras was born in 580 BCE on the island of Samos, Greece. When Pythagoras was alive, he was known for much more than his mathematics. In addition, he was a musical theorist and philosopher.
One of the great accomplishments he was known for was his school. Unlike the other academies in Greece, Pythagoras accepted only elite thinkers of any age or gender. At its height, his students numbered approximately 2,500. Five hundred of those students were considered the Mathematikoi; they were not permitted to marry, to have any personal possessions or to eat animal products. These 500 students were Pythagoras’s disciples. The other 2,000 students were known as Akousmatikoi, which means listeners. They did not have the same requirements as the Mathematikoi and they were not permitted to learn Pythagoras’s most sacred teachings such as high-level mathematics.
The curriculum of Pythagoras’s school consisted of the four disciplines of arithmetic, geometry, the arts, and philosophy. Many times these subjects crossed each other. Sometimes, the mathematical ideas crossed into music or the philosophical ideas crossed into geometry. Pythagoras believed that numbers were the key to life.
In his day, Pythagoras was known for his philosophy. He lived about 200 years before Socrates, Aristotle and Plato, yet he was the first man in history to be referred to as a philosopher, which literally means a lover of wisdom.
Another area of strength for Pythagoras was musical theory. He believed that music could heal physical and mental wounds and that being healthy depended on what music you listened to. He thought string instruments were very helpful but that wind instruments were unhealthy.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars because I thought it gave very interesting information about this ancient genius. However, I did feel as though the writing style linked facts and I would have liked more background.


Shark Lady, by Ann McGovern
This book is about the life of Eugenie Clark who lives in New York. It follows her life from her childhood dream of being an ichthyologist and tells about most of her life. She decided to become an ichthyologist because when she was little she used to go to the aquarium every day when her mom worked and she wanted to dive with the fish and the sharks and learn about them. The book is a little slow moving, but interesting if you enjoy learning about marine life. I did find it fascinating to learn all the facts she discovered about fish and sharks. I think the most interesting fact she discovered was that a fish called the Moses sole has a milky substance on it that feels tingly on people’s fingers, and she found out that it is a like shark repellent. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 because it showed how someone made her dream a reality. It was inspirational.
By Bryce T.

A Spy for Freedom, by Ida Cowen and Irene Gunther
This book is about a girl named Sarah Aaronsohn. She lived during the time when the Turkish were ruling Palestine. During World War I she sent intelligence about the Turkish soldiers to the British who were fighting against them. She used her resources and her friends to do this. There is lots of love and lots of broken hearts inside this story. Sarah had many interesting and frightening things happen to her, and you get to go with her. The story ends when she dies, so you really get to go through her life with her. I really liked this book. I couldn’t put it down. You feel like you’re with her. I cried with her. I laughed with her. I smiled with her, and with every person inside the book. I definitely recommend this book to everyone.
Tali.G

Steve Jobs American Genius,by Amanda Ziller
reviewed by Sammi B.
A visionary, inventor, and genius, are some of the many titles that Steve Jobs has been given. The book I read was a biography of Steve Jobs. The author told the story of his life, which included many things that I did not know about him. I learned that he left Apple in 1985, and started the company NeXt and later became the CEO of Pixar. But the book also told the readers about his personal life, including information about his being adopted and dropping out of College. The author also taught me about the electronics and the sciences that were used. I did not like these parts of the book. I felt that she overdid it describing the sciences and the electronics.
I gave the book 3 ½ stars out of 5. The reason I did so, is that the author spent almost half of the book describing what the technology was like and how it worked. I would have enjoyed the book more if it just covered Steve Jobs’ life story, and not the entire process of how he made electronics.


Thomas A. Edison, By Sue Guthridge
The book Thomas Edison, written by Sue Guthridge, is about Thomas Edison’s life. He was born February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. When Tom was seven his family moved to St. Clair River, Michigan. In St. Clair, Tom got a job selling the newspaper to train passengers. Tom had this job for his teen years. One day when Tom was selling newspapers on the side of the train tracks he saw Mr. Mackenzie’s 2-year-old son playing on the track when a train was about to come. Tom dropped his papers and picked up the baby and got off the tracks right before they would have been hit. Mr. Mackenzie gave Tom a job as a telegraph operator. In his later life he invented some of the world’s most used things like the light bulb, the phonograph and a camera. Tom always was experimenting with chemicals and natural items so that is what later led him to become an inventor. Find out what else happens to Tom by reading the book.
I would rate this book a 3 because I found much of it boring, but it has good facts so it isn’t a 1 or 2.
By Josh C.

Biography: Thomas Edison, By Jan Adkins
This book is all about Thomas Edison’s life. He was born on February 11, 1847, and he died on October 18, 1931. It explains some of his inventions in great detail and also talks about his personal life. Some of his most important inventions were the typewriter, the light bulb, the phonograph, and motion pictures. When I read this book it really made me think about all of the little things I do every day. It shows that without Thomas Edison I wouldn’t have such an amazing life today because over half of the things I use I would not be using if Thomas Edison had not invented them. Not only did Jan Adkins write about Thomas Edison’s inventions, but she also wrote little details about him and his lifestyle. Did you know that Thomas Edison’s full name was Thomas Alva Edison and that he used to be called Al? Also, he wasn’t always a scientist. He started out working at a train station and from there moved on to different jobs until he found the right one for him, which was as an inventor and scientist. He was very good at this job and he loved it very much. If you like to learn about science and technology then this would be a great book for you. I didn’t love this book but at times I got very interested and didn’t want to put it down. I would recommend this book to you if you love to learn even when you’re not in school. Overall, in my opinion this book was okay but not great.
Mia S.

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Memoir)Three Cups of Tea starts in 1993, with Greg Mortenson climbing a mountain called K2 located in Pakistan, in memory of his younger sister who had died. Because of illness, he didn't make it all the way as he had hoped to but he did meet some friendly and unfriendly people. On his way down from K2 he got lost twice but the second time he wandered into a poor village he had never heard of called Korphe. Greg became very close to the chief of Korphe, Haji Ali. The story mainly begins in Korphe where, after being nursed back to health, Greg decides to build a school for the girls of the village. During the process he meets many challenges including almost losing his supplies. Greg would collect money from people at presentations where he would talk about his organization called the CAI, the Central Asian Institute. At one of his presentations he meets his new non-Pakistani wife. Greg is so successful with the first school that he decides to build more. He builds them in different cities in Pakistan. As it says in the book, one cup of tea means you are a stranger. Two cups of tea means you are an honored guest. The third cup means you are like family. This is why the title is called Three cups of Tea, because he was like family to Haji Ali. I would rate this book between a three and four out of five because it was not what I love to read but it was a great story and well written.
Gabrielle H.

Walt Disney, by Michael D. Cole
This biography of Walt Disney describes Disney’s childhood and a lot about Roy, his brother. Walt Disney was known as a film producer, director, screen writer, voice actor, animator and philanthropist. The author mentions one of his great businesses, which was making cartoons. He is the creator and the original voice of Mickey Mouse. Disney won 26 Academy Awards and 7 Emmy Awards. Also, Cole discusses his wonderful amusement park, which wasn’t so wonderful at first. When it first opened, people complained because the rides broke and the drinking fountains and bathrooms were without water pressure. Walt Disney opened Disney Land in Anaheim, California and Roy opened the park in Orlando, Florida. Today there are Disney amusement parks in China, France, and Japan. The park in Florida has grown to include 5 different theme parks and other entertainment attractions. I give this book 2 stars because of its repetition of facts. Being at Disney World is much better than reading about it. I hoped it would have been exciting like Disney World, but it was boring. I just wanted to finish with it.
By Ari N.

Walt Disney – Young Movie Maker, by Marie Hammontree
All his life, Walter Disney had a very big imagination. He lived in Chicago when he was little, and when he was four he took a train to move to Marceline, Missouri, with his family. Walt had three brothers and one little sister. His father always said that good boys were brought up on the farm, not the city. One day, Walter saw that his dad had a bucket of what he thought was black paint. It was really sticky tar. Walter thought it was paint for the house, so just to help out, he drew a picture of a pig on the side of the house! Although he was very proud of his artwork, his dad was not. This story shows that Disney had a great imagination and no one could tell him what to do! Mr. Elias Disney's idea of a perfect son was one that worked in a factory, or a farm when he grew up. As you probably know, that is far from what Walt Disney is known for! In this book, Walter sells cartoons, finds a mouse, gets a job on a train, and makes a railroad in his house. From his first train ride to Marceline, Walt Disney was inspired by all the events that occurred in his life. Now his achievements like Disneyland, Mickey Mouse, Disney movies, and cartoon animation, are known around the world and he would be very proud if he were here to see it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Disney. I know I do!
-Zoe G.

The Library of Greek philosophers; Socrates
The Public Conscience of Golden Age Athens
Reviewed by Adin S.
This book is highlighting one of the greatest ancient philosophers of all time, Socrates. This book talks about the life, death, and legacy of this father, soldier, stonecutter, and thinker. Socrates was tutored in all basic subjects such as math, gymnastics, and music. He was also tutored in geometry, astronomy, and natural science. Later in life, he declared these subjects unimportant so he began his deep studies in morality, truth, and philosophy. Throughout his lifetime, Socrates was an ambitious man who was thrilled and skilled in the art of proving people wrong. Socrates was a man of ethics. He would often try to engage people in an argument that would prove them wrong. The Socratic Method is what he used when he wanted to engage in verbal battle. By seeking out and terminating the flaws in the arguments of the residents, Socrates was able to generate an appreciation of better morality and ethics. I would give this book a 4 out of 5. This book was a very slow and boring read, but in the end I found that I enjoyed learning about the legacy of ancient thinkers.


Ulysses S. Grant, by Josiah Bunting III
Reviewed by Michael Grant W.
Ulysses S. Grant, general or president - how is he remembered? The biography of Ulysses S. Grant talks about his life from when he was born on April 27, 1822, to when he died on July 23, 1885. Throughout his life, he served in many important capacities such as a general and a president. He is most remembered as a general because of his bravery as a leader in the Civil War. He was able to take control of the Mississippi River and then take Richmond from the Confederacy, which brought an end to the Civil War. As the eighteenth President of the United States of America, Ulysses S. Grant unified the North and the South after the Civil War. This was not a simple task because both sides continued to resent one another. This took a lot of time and resources. On the other hand, his presidency is stained with scandal involving creditors and bribes, not unlike modern day presidencies.
This book is special because it shows the development of a mediocre or average West Point cadet into a strong leader and hero. I would recommend reading it because it is an important part of our American history. I am only giving it a four star rating because it did not mention that Grant was the first president to attend a synagogue service, which is how the “Prayer for Our Country” in the Shabbat morning service came about.



The Unredeemed Captive, by John Demos
Reviewed by Ruthie D.
The Deerfield Massacres, February 1703, Deerfield, Massachusetts: 140
residents survived, 48 were killed, and 120 were taken captive by the Indians. The
Unredeemed Captive tells the story of the events of the massacres and
the aftermath through diaries, letters, and assorted other documents of the Americans
and Canadians. It tells brief stories of all the captives; however, it mainly follows the
story of one captive in particular, the unredeemed captive. This captive's name was
Eunice Williams, daughter of John Williams, the minister of Deerfield. The Indians
captured her at the age of 8, and, along with the rest of her family, she was taken to
Canada. She was under the Indians' care, as opposed to her father and
several other captives who were placed under the care of the Canadians. When her
father was still in captivity, she got to see him only very rarely, perhaps two times a year, and when her father got out of captivity, she never saw him again. While her father was a captive, she stayed a devout Christian, but with her father gone, she soon assimilated to Indian life, and a mere two years after she left Massachusetts, she forgot how to speak English. In 1713, she was married. People never completely lost hope for her redemption, but on the day that they heard the news of her marriage, they became
much more skeptical that she would ever return. But because they never stopped praying for her to return, the story goes on.
The Unredeemed Captive has a captivating plot, and describes the Deerfield
massacres as very few people have thought to describe them before. People have
described the actual events of the massacres, what led up to the massacres,
and why they happened, but they have not written on the aftermath. If I
were to rate this book, I would give it a 3, because the book has various
chapters which are quite boring. The book as a whole however, is very interesting, and I
would highly recommend it to anyone who likes history, or likes books about the lives of
Indian captives.