Trenton Lee Stewart

Trenton Lee Stewart is one of my favorite authors. He has writen the books The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. He currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife and two kids. When he was eight years old, he would write silly rhyming poems when he had spare time at school. He would also make up stories about space explorers, killer crocs, and humans shrunk down to the size of insects. He usually writes in his study, which has a window that looks out on the garden, or occasionally, a cool critter. "The best time to work is in the morning, when nothing can disturb me." The funnest short joke he knows is:

- Knock Knock

- Who's there?

- Interupting cow

- Interupting co-

- Moo!!

His advise to writers in the making is "Read constantly and carefully - including a few reputal books on craft - and write as much as you can. Write what you think would enjoy reading yourself. Be patient and persistent, and hammer away!" A link to his site is www.doublecluck.com, then click on the tab Authors and then search Trenton Lee Stewart.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Trenton Lee Stewart

*****

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is the BEST!!!

Reynie Muldoon is reading the newspaper one day and finds an ad specificly for children looking for special opportunities. He takes a special test and is the only one who gets it right. This happens again and again and every time, he makes a new friend. When the test are over, Reynie, George Washington, (most commonly known as Sticky) Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire are called forth by Mr. Benedict to a perplexing mission: they must stop the dangerous Leopathra Curtain before he brainsweeps the world. They Mysterious Benedict Society must use their special skills to save the world and their minds. My favorite part of the story is when The Mysterious Benedict Society had their secret meetings in the Institute. Lights out is at 10 pm, and to avoid getting caught awake, Kate and Constance have to be lowered in from the ceiling, and to report their discoveries, they have to use morse code and send the messages with Kate's flashlight. This book is real flashlight-under-the-bedclothes material!!

Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising

Pam Munoz Ryan

*****

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is one of the best books I've read! Esperanza Ortega lives her life wonderfully on El Rancho De Las Rosas in Aguacalientes, Mexico until Papa dies and her evil uncles set the ranch on fire. Mama and Esperanza are forced to go to a Mexican Labor Camp in California. But when Mama comes down with Valley Fever, Esperanza must learn how to be brave, patient, and self-reliant as she goes on the mountains and valleys of her ever-changing life.

My favorite part of the story is when Abuelita gets well and comes to California to join Esperanza, Mama, Hortensia, Alfonso, Miguel, Juan, and Josefina after an injury. I highly recommend that you read this book!!

The End

The End

Lemony Snicket

****

The End by Lemony Snicket is a really intruging book. Orphans Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are chased by the treacherous villain Count Olaf onto a solitary island that is "safe from the worlds treachery." But the islands facilitator Ishamel does the exact opposite over everything he tells the islanders to do. And if an islander decides to "rock the boat", they are cast out of the island community. But when Count Olaf releases the spores of Medusoid Mycelium, a deadly fungus that can kill in an hour to whoever inhales it, the Baudelaires must figure out a way to save the islanders, Kit Snicket, and themselves.

My favorite part of the book is when the islanders try to mutiny Ishamel and decide who's the root of trouble. This book is really great and I want you to think so too!!

Typhoon Morakot

Taiwan was helpless as the storming waves smacked the gritty sand and silt, bringing down bridges and smashing houses. Crushing pound of mud pressed and squeezed the life out of innocent citizens. This is Typhoon Morakot.

This picture shows waves 30 feet high pummel the defensless land of Taiwan. The waves of this storm swept away cars, tossed around rubbish, and knocked down bridges and buildings. Mother Nature sure has its way of making a statment. Taiwan got 2 meters of rain this past weekend and this is what was the result of it. This, though, as shocking as it is, was a window to show us 6th graders nature in action. I think it has a connection with people and the enviornment and how nature acts and when people are in the scene, it can get messy!!