Books that have stood the test of time and impressed generations of readers
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London Living in the wild isn’t what Buck had in store for himself, but when fate lead him there, he now needs to do everything he can in order to survive. The story takes place in 1897, when Buck, a half Saint Bernard and half sheep dog is born into the beautiful estate of his owner judge miller that is located in Santa Clara Valley, California. The beautiful dog is accustomed to a life of riches and luxury living. Bucks fait begins when a gardener sells the dog while his owner is away to a cruel dog trader that is in search for strong dogs that will pull their sleds in a long journey searching for gold in the region of Canada, known as Klondlike. There, he tries to teach him rules by fiercely beating him. Buck was joined with other dogs and watched them violently attacked and killed. He realizes that he must not get into fights because he may very well get killed himself. Buck was sold to Francois and Perrault who were mail carriers working for the Canadian government. As these two were fulfilling their job, Buck started to adjust himself to the lifestyle that his new owners provided him as a sled dog. He learns how to hunt for food, to fight when needed, and he adjusts to the bitter cold of the wild. During this journey, Buck wants to prove himself to his masters, that he is the true leader of the pack and starts to develop a strong hatred towards Spitz, the current leader . He challenges Spits when the two go after their prey and end up in a gruesome fight that ends Spitz life. As a leading dog, Buck and his masters break a record in timing. Unfortunately, the team was sold again to a group of gold hunters, who had no experience leading this journey. They overloaded the dogs, beat them and didn’t manage their food resources well. Many of the dogs got ill and died due to exhaustion and starvation. As the journey continues with only five dogs left, the team reached Thorton’s camp. There, he warns them of the dangers of the ice melting. Buck sensed the danger and refused to continue, but Hal and Charles beat the other dogs in an effort to continue the journey. As they moved on, the ice broke and the humans and the dogs drowned to death. John Thorton becomes Bucks new master, and they both develop a strong love and loyalty to one another. The two go on a search to find a lost mine when the unpredictable happens. The book portrays is an awesome adventure that was full interesting events which made me want to read more. I would recommend it to readers who love action and adventure. Reviewed by Gabe Y. Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes Johnny Tremain was a silversmith’s apprentice who lived in the 1770’s in Boston. After being injured while making a sugar basin, Johnny was unable to become a silversmith. He had been living with Priscilla and Isannah Lapham and their family, but he had to leave when he couldn’t work as a silversmith. He moved in with his friend Rab, and worked for the Boston Observer. Once a week, a club met in the attic of the Boston Observer printing shop. They were called the Boston Observers and members of the club included John Adams, Samuel Adams, Dr. Warren and more founding fathers of our country. Johnny discovered that he was related to a famous merchant named Jonathan Lyte. Johnny went to Mr. Lyte and told him that he thought they were related, but Mr. Lyte thought Johnny was an imposter and had him arrested. After Johnny was proven innocent in court, the Revolutionary War was about to begin. There were British soldiers all over Boston and Johnny became the messenger for the Boston Observer club. He had to go all over Boston, sneak past British soldiers and give the news very quietly to the patriots. Rating: 5 stars. Johnny Tremain is an interesting story that people of all ages can enjoy. It also gave me a good idea of what it must have been like to live in Boston in the 1770s. By Zachary S.
Johnny Tremain is an enticing story set in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War, when the colonies fought the British for their liberty. The plot follows the life of a boy named Johnny (Jonathan), a silversmith’s apprentice, who has to give up his trade due to a crippled hand. He becomes a rider for a “Rebel” newspaper. There he meets a boy named Rab, who is the printer’s apprentice and becomes Johnny’s best friend. Rab then leaves to fight. The paper secretly held meetings for the Sons of Liberty. A local group of patriots consisting of historical figures, such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams, were all members of the Sons of Liberty. Fictional main characters include Priscilla Lapham, also known as “Cilla”, who is Johnny’s loved one who likes him back. She is the daughter of Mr. Lapham, his mentor. Dove is the reason Johnny’s hand is crippled, and he is also an apprentice to Mr. Lapham. Merchant Jonathan Lyte is unknowingly Johnny’s great uncle who frames him as a crook! I thought the book really described the tension between the colonists and the British. Overall, it was a great historical fiction novel that easily makes five stars.
By David T.
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
Catherine and Heathcliff, they are destined to share eternal love. Through selfishness, evil, and even death, their love is always true. The story revolves around these two characters. Catherine is beautiful, however not without flaws. Selfishness and greediness override Catherine, which only causes constant trouble in this tale. Her lover, Heathcliff, the tall and handsome man, is cruel and harsh, which makes the already complex relationship just that more complex. The story takes place during the mid- to late 1800s, during the Victorian time period. Women had scarcely any rights and were expected to only be housewives; while the men, who were powerful and ruled, had grand houses and many servants at hand. Heathcliff, being one of these people himself, sees life in a wicked view. Even his love for Catherine remains as an unusual encounter. Neither one would you choose as friends, when it is more likely to be enemies. But what Emily Bronte creates is compassion towards two dark people who know no love or sympathy except towards one another. This astonishing author, does a fabulous job in her captivating, tale-twisting book. With my rating of five stars, I highly recommend this tough read.
Classics
Books that have stood the test of time and impressed generations of readers
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
Living in the wild isn’t what Buck had in store for himself, but when fate lead him there, he now needs to do everything he can in order to survive.
The story takes place in 1897, when Buck, a half Saint Bernard and half sheep dog is born into the beautiful estate of his owner judge miller that is located in Santa Clara Valley, California. The beautiful dog is accustomed to a life of riches and luxury living. Bucks fait begins when a gardener sells the dog while his owner is away to a cruel dog trader that is in search for strong dogs that will pull their sleds in a long journey searching for gold in the region of Canada, known as Klondlike. There, he tries to teach him rules by fiercely beating him. Buck was joined with other dogs and watched them violently attacked and killed. He realizes that he must not get into fights because he may very well get killed himself. Buck was sold to Francois and Perrault who were mail carriers working for the Canadian government. As these two were fulfilling their job, Buck started to adjust himself to the lifestyle that his new owners provided him as a sled dog. He learns how to hunt for food, to fight when needed, and he adjusts to the bitter cold of the wild. During this journey, Buck wants to prove himself to his masters, that he is the true leader of the pack and starts to develop a strong hatred towards Spitz, the current leader . He challenges Spits when the two go after their prey and end up in a gruesome fight that ends Spitz life. As a leading dog, Buck and his masters break a record in timing.
Unfortunately, the team was sold again to a group of gold hunters, who had no experience leading this journey. They overloaded the dogs, beat them and didn’t manage their food resources well. Many of the dogs got ill and died due to exhaustion and starvation. As the journey continues with only five dogs left, the team reached Thorton’s camp. There, he warns them of the dangers of the ice melting. Buck sensed the danger and refused to continue, but Hal and Charles beat the other dogs in an effort to continue the journey. As they moved on, the ice broke and the humans and the dogs drowned to death.
John Thorton becomes Bucks new master, and they both develop a strong love and loyalty to one another. The two go on a search to find a lost mine when the unpredictable happens.
The book portrays is an awesome adventure that was full interesting events which made me want to read more. I would recommend it to readers who love action and adventure.
Reviewed by Gabe Y.
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Johnny Tremain was a silversmith’s apprentice who lived in the 1770’s in Boston. After being injured while making a sugar basin, Johnny was unable to become a silversmith. He had been living with Priscilla and Isannah Lapham and their family, but he had to leave when he couldn’t work as a silversmith. He moved in with his friend Rab, and worked for the Boston Observer.
Once a week, a club met in the attic of the Boston Observer printing shop. They were called the Boston Observers and members of the club included John Adams, Samuel Adams, Dr. Warren and more founding fathers of our country.
Johnny discovered that he was related to a famous merchant named Jonathan Lyte. Johnny went to Mr. Lyte and told him that he thought they were related, but Mr. Lyte thought Johnny was an imposter and had him arrested. After Johnny was proven innocent in court, the Revolutionary War was about to begin. There were British soldiers all over Boston and Johnny became the messenger for the Boston Observer club. He had to go all over Boston, sneak past British soldiers and give the news very quietly to the patriots.
Rating: 5 stars. Johnny Tremain is an interesting story that people of all ages can enjoy. It also gave me a good idea of what it must have been like to live in Boston in the 1770s.
By Zachary S.
Jonny Tremain, by Esther Forbes (Historical Fiction--America)
Johnny Tremain is an enticing story set in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War, when the colonies fought the British for their liberty. The plot follows the life of a boy named Johnny (Jonathan), a silversmith’s apprentice, who has to give up his trade due to a crippled hand. He becomes a rider for a “Rebel” newspaper. There he meets a boy named Rab, who is the printer’s apprentice and becomes Johnny’s best friend. Rab then leaves to fight. The paper secretly held meetings for the Sons of Liberty. A local group of patriots consisting of historical figures, such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams, were all members of the Sons of Liberty. Fictional main characters include Priscilla Lapham, also known as “Cilla”, who is Johnny’s loved one who likes him back. She is the daughter of Mr. Lapham, his mentor. Dove is the reason Johnny’s hand is crippled, and he is also an apprentice to Mr. Lapham. Merchant Jonathan Lyte is unknowingly Johnny’s great uncle who frames him as a crook! I thought the book really described the tension between the colonists and the British. Overall, it was a great historical fiction novel that easily makes five stars.
By David T.
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
Catherine and Heathcliff, they are destined to share eternal love. Through selfishness, evil, and even death, their love is always true. The story revolves around these two characters. Catherine is beautiful, however not without flaws. Selfishness and greediness override Catherine, which only causes constant trouble in this tale. Her lover, Heathcliff, the tall and handsome man, is cruel and harsh, which makes the already complex relationship just that more complex. The story takes place during the mid- to late 1800s, during the Victorian time period. Women had scarcely any rights and were expected to only be housewives; while the men, who were powerful and ruled, had grand houses and many servants at hand. Heathcliff, being one of these people himself, sees life in a wicked view. Even his love for Catherine remains as an unusual encounter. Neither one would you choose as friends, when it is more likely to be enemies. But what Emily Bronte creates is compassion towards two dark people who know no love or sympathy except towards one another. This astonishing author, does a fabulous job in her captivating, tale-twisting book. With my rating of five stars, I highly recommend this tough read.
By Dria Gutierrez