Book Review: Big Nate Makes The Grade

Book: Big Nate Makes The Grade by Lincoln Peirce

Edition: Paperback

Description:

At P.S. 38, sixth-grader Nate Wright is known for many things: his knack for making mischief; his overstuffed locker that's half garbage dump, half treasure trove; and of course, his unbreakable school record for detentions. Nate may be a chess phenom, but in the classroom, he's not so masterful -- especially compared to Gina, the grade-grubbing brainiac who gives teacher's pets everywhere a bad name.

In Big Nate Makes the Grade, follow the hilarious adventures of Nate, his pals, and his long-suffering teachers from the first day of school to the start of summer vacation.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

There is no other way to describe Nate Wright other than being a total pain. He annoys everyone from his family and friends to his classmates and teachers. Well, that's the thing about Nate he tends to cause nothing but trouble and while he's at school he often times winds up in detention.

In Big Nate Makes The Grade, it's the start of another school year and Nate is continuing to do his bare minimum in his classes and with his homework assignments. And what I find interesting is that Nate is a natural at playing chess but when it comes to his education he's a total slacker. He doesn't apply any of his discipline or skills he uses for the game to do his best in school.

It's so funny to see the looks of dread on his teachers' (and sometimes his friends') faces whenever Nate is talking to them because he always end up saying something either upsetting or annoying. Out of all of his teachers, I think he irritates Mrs. Godfrey the most. He has an ongoing rivalry with his classmate Gina, who he considers to be the ultimate teacher's pet. He decided to run against her for class treasurer not because he wanted the position but because he doesn't like her. He also has a one sided rivalry with another classmate Artur, Nate is absolutely annoyed by how nice Artur is and tried to change him.

Nate really does have a penchant for getting into trouble which makes for a fun read. I love reading the Big Nate books because I never get tired of reading about Nate's ridiculous antics. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan

Book: Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan (Jedi Academy book #2) by Jeffrey Brown

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown returns in the highly anticipated sequel to the NY Times Bestseller Star Wars: Jedi Academy!

It's time to return to middle school in a galaxy far, far away. . . .

After surviving his first year at Jedi Academy, Roan Novachez thought his second year would be a breeze. He couldn't have been more wrong. Roan feels like he's drifting apart from his friends, and it's only made worse when Roan discovers he's not the amazing pilot he thought he'd be. When the school bullies take him under their wing, he decides they aren't so bad after all--or are they?

This year, Roan will have to face alien poetry tests, menacing robots, food fights, flight simulation class, online bullies, more lightsaber duels, and worst of all . . . a girl who is mad at him.

This incredible, original story captures all of the humor, awkwardness, fun, and frustrations of middle school--all told through one boy's comics, journal entries, letters, sketches, e-mails, and more.



Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Review:

This is a really cute story.

Roan's school adventures continue in this sequel. Back for his second year at the Jedi Academy, Roan found himself dealing with many friendship and school issues. After a few misunderstandings, Roan's friendship with both Pasha and Gaiana were in jeopardy and it did not help matters when he started hanging out with the class bullies Cronah and Cyrus.

There's also quite a few Star Wars references throughout and I absolutely adored the Yoda in this book. He's great.

A funny book that's geared towards children but can still make adult Star Wars fans laugh.

Book Review: Sisters

Book: Sisters (Smile book #2) written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier with color by Braden Lamb

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

The companion to Raina Telgemeier's #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir, SMILE.

Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.

Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.


Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

Sibling drama was never so funny. If you have brothers or sisters, many of the scenes maybe really familiar to you.

Sisters tell the story of the author's life as she was growing up in San Francisco. The story moves back and forth from the past to the present as it deals with rivalry between 14 year old Raina and her younger sister Amara who constantly get on each other's nerves. Despite having the love art and drawing in common those two can't stop arguing and yet everything feels so normal. They also become annoyed by their little brother Will

The story also shows the ups and downs of family life from her father losing his job to the family trip to Colorado.

Sisters is perfectly adorable and a perfect read for kids and adults.

Book Review: Bird & Squirrel on Ice

Book: Bird & Squirrel on Ice (Bird & Squirrel book #2) by James Burks

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: September 30, 2014

Description:

Bird and Squirrel are back and ready for adventure!

After Bird and Squirrel crash land in the South Pole during a raging blizzard, a penguin named Sakari thinks Bird has come to rid her village of a hungry Killer Whale. But when Squirrel finds out that Bird will actually be fed to the Killer Whale as a sacrifice, they hatch a crazy plan to escape. With a good timing, a little luck, and help from Sakari, they just might make it out alive. Or they might end up as whale food!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I seem to keep finding a lot of good books to read and Bird & Squirrel on Ice continues my good luck.

In this children's (or all-ages) comic book, Bird and Squirrel were flying through a bad snow storm when they made an impromptu landing in the South Pole. The two meet a new friend Sakari, a penguin who takes them back to her village to inform the villagers that the prophesy of the chosen one (a flying bird that falls from the sky) has finally appeared. The chosen one is supposed to free the village from their problem, a huge killer whale who is eating up all of their food.

Bird was so busy enjoying the limelight that he didn't bother figuring out a plan for how to stop the whale. It wasn't until Squirrel and Sakari saw the prophesy that they finally understood how Bird was supposed to stop the whale but to them that was not a very good plan. Especially when it will put Bird in danger.

But Sakari not wanting to go against her father the chief needed to figure out another way for her and Squirrel to not only save Bird but also rid the village of the whale.

This fast paced funny and heroic story will have children laughing at the silly things Bird and Squirrel does or seeing how cool Sakari is to cheering on the trio as they to stop the whale. I like all the characters and the artwork is so bright and colorful and cartoon like.

If your a parent and have young children interested in reading comics books I think this book is a good introduction to the genre. They get an amazing story that will not have them seeing or reading anything not age appropriate.