Teen Fiction Reviews from 6th Grade Students
Written During Past Summer Reading Programs
All ratings are out of 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Genre: realistic fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
In this book a boy named Roy just moved to Florida from Montana. Roy reads in the paper about some acts of vandalism
in a nearby lot. Roy goes to look at the lot while there Roy discovers burrowing owls. Roy goes home and looks on
computer he finds that burrowing owls are legally protected. A bunch of his friends and him go down to the lot for the
ground breaking ceriman to protest.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name and Other Tales about Extreme Sports by Gary Paulson
Genre: memoir
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
His stories from his childhood were very funny. It also had a good message at the end. Definitely read this book. Love the
astonishingly lengthy title! I also thought that all the stories were very cool. All the stories were about things that would
later be invented. I highly recommend this book.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
Exciting story. Bad man named Capricorn. This involves a dad who can read things out of a book. Takes place in Europe.
It is long but worth the read! This book was gory, exciting, thrilling and adventurous. The characters were different from
each other but they all wanted the book Inkheart. I felt bad for Meggy because her mother got trapped in a book. But, I
loved the whole idea of the book!
Jimmy's Stars by Mary Rodman
Genre: realistic fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
In this book, Ellie's brother Jimmy goes away to battle. Ellie is heartbroken, because she and Jimmy were so close. But,
she and Jimmy kept in contact. Luckily Jimmy is only a doctor. Then he gets shipped to England. What will happen to
Jimmy?
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
Genre: fiction
Rating: 2 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
It is about a boy named Joey Pigza. His parents are divorced, and his dad is an alcoholic. His mom then decided to send
him to his father for a summer. He joins his father’s baseball team and finds out that his dad has been arrested multiple
times. His dad then starts making odd decision and his mom comes and picks him up.
Review this story takes place in the 1700's when Martha Morse was a girl. She is Laura Ingalls’s great-grandmother.
Martha is a laird’s daughter. She has many times she needs to behave. Even though she would rather play she survives.
Nothing like how Laura lives.
Mackenzie Blue by Tina Wells
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
This is a book about a girl who is about to start 7th grade. She has many hardships all throughout its beginning. For
example, her best friend moves away, her diary is stolen and read. To add to her stress an audition for a singing
competition comes to her school and she just has to win. Will she survive 7th grade?
Madison Finn by Laura Dower
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
Madison’s father is getting married. Madison is going to go to a real ranch wedding in Texas and boy is she scared!
Madison has to read a love poem out loud to hundreds of people. Madison is complexly overloaded. What will she do!!?
Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
This is a very powerful book about Molly, who loses her mom and tries to find her "father”. He was her mom's exboyfriend and a basketball star playing for the Celtics. She has limited time to convince him that he's her father and stay
in Boston.
Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor
Genre: Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
This book was really short but good. It takes place in the olden times (1930) when people were racist. It had a good
moral and taught you a lot. It is about this boy named Jeremy Simms. He watches people from the porch of the general
store as the weekly bus comes to town. Everybody has their seats payed for, but even if there paid for the black people
have to get off first because there isn't enough room for everybody. But when that bus is loaded and starts driving and it
is headed on the Mississippi Bridge which is very old, the bus then slips in the rain and into the river...
Monkey by Jeff Stone
Genre: Adventure/history
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
In this book a 12 year old Buddhist monk named Malao tries to survive while being hunted by a traitor named Ying.
Malao befriends a white one eyed monkey while on the run. While traveling with the monkey troop he is found by a
group of bandits. He finds his Buddhist brother named her within the group and gets into a fight with a man named
hung.
Mouse by Jeff Stone
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
A homeless boy named Shohsoa is befriended by 2 monks named Hok and Ying. Shohsoa stows away on Tonglongs ship
but is found. As his punishment he was to be tonglongs servant. He must help Tonglong retrieve something from
tonglongs father’s grave. Tonglong finds a great treasures a legend says that whoever has the treasure is the rightfully
ruler of China.
The 39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
I thought this was an excellent sequel to the saga of The 39 Clues. Dan and Amy had been cheated by their old, but
cunning Uncle Alistair. Dan and Amy are the only team that doesn't know their branch- which could turn out to be a big
problem. All of the branches have strongholds to restock on supplies- like food and weapons. The other teams are rich,
and have been squeezing all the clues out of Dan and Amy. They have gotten surprisingly ahead with all their private
jets. Grace Cahill's lawyer, more like a strong friendship than a lawyer, is called Mr. McIntyre. He told Dan and Amy not
to trust anyone, but the other teams think he was giving inside hints, since Grace Cahill's favorite people were her
grandchildren, Dan and Amy. They start attacking with more gusto and more force. It seems like they're going downhill,
but they finally grasp onto a clue. Thanks for reading my review!
The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
The name sounds scary, but the book is good for fifth or sixth graders. Older kids will also enjoy this wonderful story. The
characters bond, even though they have been fighting with each other since they were born. They are on a race to find
the 39 Clues- a secret in the powerful Cahill family for millions of years. The Cahill family included almost all famous
people- like Benjamin Franklin. The Cahills have 4 branches- Tomas, Ekaterina, Lucian, and Janus branch. Every year,
Grace Cahill invites all the Cahills from Japan to Africa. Dan and Amy Cahill, along with their au pair, Nellie Gomez, might
be the weakest team, but they rush through the jaws of lurking death with determination. After reading the book, you
can go to the39clues.com to play games and find out if you belong to the mighty Cahill family.
The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
I personally loved this trilogy to the saga of the 39 Clues. Dan and Amy almost lose their au pair to the hands of Lucians'
Ian and Natalie Kabra. Then they make a pact with Alistair Oh, who claims that his disappearance was due to a fire in
Grace Cahill's mansion. They also shake hands with Ian and Natalie Kabra. Ian takes out a stone, which marks the
alchemy symbols. They figure out that the prize will be The Philosopher’s Stone, which can turn everyday substances to
solid gold. Then Ian and Natalie lock Alistair, Amy, and Dan in a cave, while Ian takes back the family heirloom. At the
end Alistair is thought to be dead, but Dan and Amy realize he is alive. Thanks for reading my review!
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Genre: Adventure/fantasy
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
This book is a good read for older kids. I would recommend this to anyone- even if you hate learning about Greek
Mythology because the story is action- packed and will teach about Greek Mythology in a fun way. There is also some
romance for romance- lovers, but if you don't like romance- well, you still won't be disappointed at the end. The only
bad part is this is the last book in the series. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, ask your librarian for the Percy
Jackson and the Olympians series. Otherwise, the first book is The Lightning Thief, the second is The Sea of Monsters,
the third is The Titan's Curse, the fourth is The Battle of the Labyrinth, and the fifth, or last, is The Last Olympian. Thanks
for reading my review on The Last Olympian.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in 6th grade
In this fantasy novel, Winnie, a lonely girl, tries to run away. On one of these attempts she runs into this man in a yellow
suit. He is quit strange, but Winnie still politely says hi. The next day while in the woods of her family she meets a boy sit
next to a small. Before she knows it the family and the boy at the spring, toss her onto their horse and gallop away with
her. At their house she finds out that the Tucks (their last name) drank out of that spring and were living forever. They
also tell Winnie that nobody can know about the spring. The next day the man in the yellow suit comes knocking at the
Tucks door. He says that he got a contract from Winnie's parents to find Winnie in trade for the woods. Mae then shoots
him in the head and he dies. In the end the Tucks escape from jail.
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Genre:
Rating:
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
The story is about a boy who is struck by a car and the accident causes him to see ghost. He soon finds himself becoming
friends with the ghost, sees his dead mom in the underworld and learns about his family history.
Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
This is about a young teen age boy named Charlie. He thinks war is just a game but when he decides to fight in the
revolutionary war he learns differently. There, in the war, he learns what war is really about, how hard it is, and learns
the difficulties of sanitation. When he come back home at the end of the war, it is obvious that he has grown
emotionally and morally. After the war, he returns home with a soldier’s heart.
Under the Baseball Moon by John H. Ritter
Genre: Sports, Mystery
Rating: 5 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
This is about a 15 year old boy named Andy who is a great trumpet player. In his small town, Andy, plays his trumpet
while skateboarding. Soon the small band of his is making songs and performing in front of the town. Only then does he
meet Gloria, a good softball player. Soon they find their paths crossing.
The Diary of Katie Roberts by Amy Hest
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
This charming book was set in World War II when Katie Roberts is 11 years old, living in New York. Her father, Mr.
Roberts, died fighting in the war as a soldier. She wishes every day to no prevail that her father would come home.
Suddenly, her family has to move to hot, balmy Texas. Her mother falls in love with a man named Sam Gold. Katie hates
Sam. Her mom has two baby twins named Billy and Seymour. Sam loves cows and purchases a newborn calf. Sam loves
cooking so they establish a business called Trolley Car Cafe. Katie named it while thinking of New York and trolleys. Katie
makes a new friend, Lucie, who loves baseball. She also has a pen pal who is old and wise and whom she tells everything
about her life as well. The next year, the new kid in school is named Rudy Pergolizzi. He is from Italy and Katie soon
learns his father, mother, and grandma diet in the war as well.
Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech
Genre: realistic fiction
Ratings: 3 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
Absolutely Normak Chaos is about a girl named Mary Lou Finney, her assignment for the summer is to keep a journal.
Over the summer her cousin, Carl Ray, from West Virginia comes to stay with them for part of the summer. He is
supposedly looking for a job but Mary Lou finds out otherwise. Also she gets into a relationship with a boy from school,
Alex Cheevey. Mary Lou also over the summer has to read the Odyssey and I think she figured out some new thing s
either about life or metaphors.
Dizzy by Cathy Cassidy
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Ratings: 5 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
This book is about a girl, Dizzy, who lives with only her dad. Her mom ran away as a gypsy when she was 4. Every year on
her birthday, she receives a present, but one year she comes home. It comes to be Dizzy travels and camps with her
mom. She realizes her mom is not the most caring person, but more selfish. Will Dizzy go to her Dad or travel with her
mom?
Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Ratings: 5 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
I recommended this book because I think it's a must read. Girl in a Cage is a story that will take you back to the time of
knights and kingdoms. When Marjorie Bruce's father becomes King of Scotland, she's excited to become a princess. But
when she's captured and caged by the evil King Longshanks of England, Marjorie has to show everyone what a princess
is like, even in a cage.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Genre: realistic fiction
Ratings: 4 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
In this book a boy named Roy just moved to Florida from Montana. Roy reads in the paper about some acts of vandalism
in a nearby lot. Roy goes to look at the lot while there Roy discovers burrowing owls. Roy goes home and looks on
computer he finds that burrowing owls are legally protected. A bunch of his friends and him go down to the lot for the
ground breaking ceremony to protest
Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
Genre: Action, Adventure, and a little Mystery
Ratings: 4 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
The book Skeleton Key is part of the new series, Alex Rider Adventures. This is a series about a 14 year old boy being a
spy for the British Intelligence Agency or the MI6. Skeleton is the third book. In this book Anthony Horwitz makes Alex
take a trip in a island called Skeleton Key. This island is very highly guarded with security systems. Alex was suppose to
just help two CSI agents get on the island and then have a nice vacation out of dangers way. Unfortunately, Alex found
out what was going on and wanted to help on the mission. After Alex knew something had happened he tried to find out
what happened to the two agents. But it was to bad he got caught. Alex did manage to escape for a while to inform the
police. He had been recaptured and left on a boat with a man who hated him. In the end Alex saved the world once
again and as safe and sound at his house. The Alex Rider Series is action packed and a good choice for boys. Everyone in
my 2008-2009 class loved the series. And anyone who loves adventures or mysteries, try these books. You might like
them!
The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
I enjoyed reading this book. This is a funny book about a kid named Rufus. Rufus is very smart. One day he goes
shopping for his mother. When he goes to buy toothpaste he sees it is very expensive. So he makes his own. Then he
ends up selling it. Will he make a lot of money?
Best Friends for Never by Lisi Harrison
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Review Written by Someone in Grade 6
Masssie hears her and Claire's mothers talking about how they wish their daughters would get along. Massie also hears
that two wannabes are planning a Halloween party. Massie figures that she will get best results from her mother if she
pretends to co-host with Claire and stay on top of her social life. While at the party Massie confirms her crush on Cam;
Dylan on Derrington; Kristen on Derrington; and Claire on Cam. Massie and Claire's crushes are secret. However Kristen
and Dylan's are not. This leads to fighting as does Alicia's new friend Olivia. Will the Clique keep it together?
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Genre: romance, adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Review written by someone in grade 6
17 year old Ginny has 13 blue envelopes with notes telling her what to do from her aunt. These adventures will take her
across countries. Ginny's life changes after the 13 envelopes are opened read and already been done. Will this be
torture or fun and a new experience for Ginny? A lot of secrets Ginny do not know.