www.briarcliffmanorlibrary .org, Vol. 10, Issue 2, Apr. 2015

The critics Meet the Critics on Page 10 The rating system Skittles Totally Not Maxwell Kickstarter HUD5-TP WishMaker Peanut Excellent = Too good to be true Morty Jr. Disney Fan Paris Good = Good enough to be true Grammarconda Mak Attack Athena the Wise M. OK = Socks with sandals M.C. Giggles Suit Up! Stewie Griffon Bad = Regrettable Awful= Defenestration necessary

In this issue Bluestar’s Prophecy · Theory of Everything · Alanna: The First Adventure · Lies My Teacher Told Me · Born to Rock · The Juvie Three · Lord of the Flies · Brain Games · Guardians of the Galaxy · Winter · A Brief History of Time · Wild Magic · Lord of the Rings: The Fellow- ship of the Ring · The Hobbit · Shadow on the Mountain · Lady Thief · The Killing · Into the Woods · Nobody’s Princess · Holes · Battle- field Hardline · War Dance · The Rithmatist · City of Ember · The Lion King · The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies · Zendure A2 Portable Charger · Scarlet · Interstellar · Matilda · Found · 2001: A Space Odyssey · Neon Pegasus · Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy · I Am Malala · American Graffiti · Fantasia · Chicken Little · The League · Assasin’s Creed Unity · The Red Pyramid

The opinions expressed in the reviews are not necessarily the opinion of the Library. The appropriateness of the materials reviewed is not for the Public Library to determine and the students are encouraged to review whatever they’d like— therefore, we encourage parents to be involved in and be aware of their children’s book, movie, television, gaming, internet and music choices. All non-original images are property of their various copyright owners. Bluestar’s Prophecy Her twin, Thom, doesn’t want By Erin Hunter to be a knight, although Critic: Skittles Tortall commands him to. So Rating: Too good to be true they do the only good illogical Bluestar, strong, brave and thing, they pretend to be each nobel leader of Thunderclan other! Lucky for them, they has been an amazing have a very scrambled up dad, character since the beginning. so it is realistic. Congrats. But what was her beginning Alanna (Alan) soon finds out like? Bluestar’s past was filled that being a student knight is with many perils, hard harder than it looks. (Although it looked really decisions, and mistakes. hard; that should tell you it is really hard.) Soon SPOILER ALERT! Bluestar’s everyone finds out, and as you will soon find out, sister Snowfur mates with keeping a secret is difficult. Thistleclaw, an evil cat, and they have a kit named Whitekit (later Whitestorm). Snowfur is hit by a car and killed and Bluestar must raise Whitekit by Lies My Teacher Told herself. She then breaks the warrior code and Me mates with Oakheart, a Riverclan cat, but she gives By James W. Loewen her three kits to him to become deputy of Critic: Totally Not Maxwell Thunderclan instead of Thistleclaw. This is my favorite super editions, and I Rating: Too good to be true highly recommend it for all This non-fiction book was so fellow Warriors! great that I got the sequel. It gives a thorough history of Theory of Everything our country that is relatively unbiased. It also talks about why some textbooks distort the past Rated: PG-13 to make the U.S. appear spotless. It is very Critic: WishMaker interesting. I am running out of decently clever Rating: Too good to be true things to say as this is my fourth review in ten As most of you have heard, minutes. Totally Not Maxwell out. this movie has won multiple Oscars. It deserves every one of them. The story about Steven Hawking’s very confusing marriage The Juvie Three is fascinating and watching his relationship with By Gordan Korman his wife and science grow and change, in his life Critic: Totally Not Maxwell that can never stay consistant with his Rating: Good enough to be unpredictable ALS is also fascinating. If you like true science and/or unpredictable and unique romance, this movie is for you. This book is about three juvenile delinquents who are

chosen to participate in an Alanna: The First Adventure experimental rehabilitation By Tamora Pierce program. They live with a counselor, go to school, and participate in large amounts of community Critic: Peanut service. However, it all strats to unravel starting Rating: Too good to be true with a major plot event that would be a spoiler. Women were not allowed to be knights in Tortall Will they be sent back to prison? Read the book although Alanna wants to be one really bad. to find out. 2 Born to Rock I am running out of time with this review so I AM GROOT! P.S. You would like it if you are a By Gordan Korman superhero fan or just like comedy/entertainment. Critic: Totally Not Maxwell Rating: Good enough to be true This realistic fiction book was Brain Games decent. A high school senior TV Show on National about to graduate gets caught Geographic Channel cheating through he really didn’t Critic: M.C. Giggles cheat on a test, and that ethics Rating: Too good to be true violation cost him his Harvard scholarship. He, re- markably, within a few days of this, finds out his bi- Deceptions, and tricks ological father (he also finds out that his dad isn’t and...brain games. For his biological father) is King Maggot, punk rocker example: You are in a race. You just passed the from the 80s. Prince Maggot then becomes a person in second place, what place are you in? roadie for his father’s comeback tour, trying to get Like most people you probably said first. But, like money for college from him. Overall, highly most people you are wrong. You just passed the unrealistic but decently funny and entertaining. I person in second so you are in second now. This would recommend this book to anyone who likes is a great show to train your mind and have fun at Gordon Korman’s other books. the same time. For more questions like this watch

the show Brain Games. Lord of the Flies By William Golding Winter Critic: Stewie Griffin season Rating: Good enough to be Critic: Kickstarter true Rating: Socks with sandals Do you enjoy reading dark, It’s ok overall. You can ski and snowboard, dystopian, or castaway sledding is fun for like the first hour. The snow is novels? Then you will love also cool to watch and snow days are great. Only Lord the Flies! This book “ok” because your parents make you shovel, tells the story of a group of winter is cold, mobility is limited, traffic is school children stranded on a deserted island after extremely common, and for some like me, grades their plan crashes. As the boys struggle to survive are worse than average. More time to eat pizza they verbally, and eventually physically, battle over and Netflix though so ya. means of rescue, food, and even a position as

“chief.” If you read this book, you will find out that everybody has a savage side to them.

Guardians of the Galaxy Rated: PG-13 Critic: Marty Jr. Rating: Too good to be true Five intergalactic criminal/ delinquent refugees join together to concor evil! That’s pretty much it, but they have a lot of funny and cool adventures through the 3 universe. A Brief History of Time By Stephen Hawking Critic: Totally Not Maxwell Rating: Too good to be true This book is a great introduc- tion to physics. It talk about a Lord of the Ring: Fellowship of the lot of physics that we haven’t yet covered in school, and it is Ring all presented in a simple, but compelling way that By J.R.R. Tolkien will entertain anyone remotely interested in Critic: Skittles science. Thus, I would highly recommend this Rating: Too good to be true book to anyone remotely interested in science. Exciting, suspenseful, and

just plain amazing. The Lord Wild Magic of the Rings follows the story By Tamora Pierce of a hobbit named Frodo Critic: Peanut and his quest to destroy the Rating: Too good to be true Ring of Power. With the help of his trusty fellowship– made up of his gardner Daine has a “talent” with Samwise Gamgee, his two loyal friends, Pippin magic, that everybody believes and Merry, a ranger named Aragorn (who just so is magical. This power is noth- happens to be the King of Gondor) a man named ing anybody has ever seen as Boromir, an elf called Legolas (who has THE a “gift.” Except Numair. He is greatest hair ever), and finally a fat dwarf named an expert in what he calls wild Gimli. Frodo must travel to Mount Doomand and magic and teaches her the things she can do and cast the ring into the fire in which it was made. her limits. Not only is she special, but she has a But there are evils along the way. Orcs hunt their certain Badger God looking over her teaching her. every step. The evil eye of Suaron watches them, Is she a god? Or a phenomenon? Just read Song craving the ring. Will they survive? of a Lioness first, or you won’t understand a thing. Just saying... The Hobbit

By J.R.R. Tolkien

Critic: WishMaker Rating: Too good to be true If you know anything about fantasy in pop culture, you have almost without a doubt heard of this book. This book is a classic, and right- fully so. This is a masterpiece. The story is great, and all of the secrecy, action and magic fit together perfectly. It’s actually quite different than the movies, and while I personally preferred the book, I could see arguments for either being justified. Overall, it was a fantastic read and lays the foundation for a great series, and is arguably just as good as the Lord of the Rings series to follow. 4 Shadow on the Mountain Into the Woods By Margi Preus Movie Rated Critic: Kickstarter Critic: Athena the Wise. M Rating: Good enough to be true Rating: Too good to be true A book with an original and A baker and his wife, a girl interesting basis but hardly with a blood-red cape, a poor fulfilled. Germany has servant girl with a golden busted the King of Norway shoe and a boy who sold a and reformed the white cow for magic beans… Norwegian way of life at the oh yeah. And a witch with blue hair. Into the beginning of World War Woods is a huge extravaganza based on a musical. Two. You’re Espen who All of the songs will have you laughing, crying or teams up with his soccer singing along. If you are a Disney fan, watch it. If friends to push toe German you’re not, watch it. I leave you with this: A cow war machine out of Norway. as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as An overall good plot on a fun journey. Characters yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold—all are varied and satisfying. The book seemed to fly due by the night of the blue moon. by too quickly though. The ending was also quite disappointing so don’t expect anything much. Nobody’s Princess

By Esther Friesner Lady Thief Critic: MC Giggles By A.C. Gaughen Rating: Good enough to be Critic: Paris true Rating: Too good to be true Nobody’s Princess is about the The second in the Scarlet classic story of Helen of Troy. series (I already reviewed the But with a twist. This book is first), this is more classic than about her childhood. It takes the first. The climax and plot you through her loyal broth- is centered around the archer ers, her prissy sister and her journey through her contest between Robin Hood life. She grows a passion to sword fighting like and the Sheriff of Nottingham. But, of course, her older brothers. Read the book to find out her there are twists. So now that Scar and Rob are in journey of love, fighting, and other troubles in love, everything has become more romantic and Nobody’s Princess. more things are stake. The biggest obstacle in this book is that Gisbourne has returned to take Holes Marian as his wife. (!Spoiler Alert for the first By Louis Sachar book!!!!) And unfortunately, Scarlet and Marian Critic: Grammarconda are the same people. This novel has ups and downs of emotions, ecstatic moments and tragic Rating: Too good to be true deaths. You will not be able to put this book Holes is an awesome book. down. I know I didn’t. Stanley Yelnats is caught doing something he did not do. He is sent to a camp to dig 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide holes. It is torture! Stanley is now teaching a kid named Zero how to read. Stanley has come across the camp’s biggest secret. Will he ever get home? Will Zero ever read? Read the book to find out! 5 Battlefield Hardline City of Ember Video Game By Jeanne DuPrau Critic: Stewie Griffin Critic: Hud5-TP Rating: Good enough to be Rating: Good enough to be true true A Battlefield Hardline is the This book is one of those fifth installment in the Battle- strong female character ones, field series. In this game, you with a strong male character are a police officer who is stuck in a whirlwind of mixed with a dystopian future. crime. The campaign is insane, and the Imagine you have lived in a city underground your multiplayer is buggy. Now, I kjnow what you are entire life (like Rapture for those who get that all thinking: Is it better than Call of Duty? If you reference). But now the whole place is going enjoy driving vehicles, large maps, random crazy Anarchy style. Read this book to learn more. scenerios, realism, and trolling like a boss, then Battlefield is way better than C.O.D.! Get it today. The Lion King Scrub! Movie Rated PG

Critic: Disney Fan War Dance Rating: Too good to be true Documentary Film What more needs to be said. Critic: Hud5-TP The changes of someone hat- Rating: Defenestration ing The Lion King are as likely necessary as a plant marrying a lamp. This is a “oh we want you to The flim is about a young lion cry while informing you” kind named Simba who is the son of documentary. Actually of King Mufasa. At a young age he can’t wait to that’s all documentaries in a be King. But a tragedy unfolds and Simba runs nutshell. But I digress, this documentary is about away and adopts a carefree lifestyle Hukuna kids who are survign a terrorist group in Africa. Matata. But his evil uncle Scar has taken over the It’s a weird and boring movie as it goes. I have kingdom. So Simba must go back to stop Scar. nothing more to say. This movie is impossible to hate. It is full of great music and characters. If you haven’t for some

reason seen it yet what are you waiting for? Go see it. The Rithmatist

By Brandon Sanderson The Hobbit: Battle of Critic: Peanut Five Armies Rating: Too good to be true Movie Rated Are you an artist and wish Critic: Grammarconda your drawings came to life? In this destined to be a clas- Rating: Good enough to be true sic book there is a God that decides if you are worthy of becoming a Rithmatist. A Rithmatist is The conclusion to the Hobbit someone who has the magical power of being trilogy was definitely not as able to make chalk come to life! But wild good as it could be. For instance, there were way chalklings (things that can actually kill you) are too many cgi characters. Though they were very running loose and this book becomes a murder entertaining in their battle sequences. Also mystery. Sightings of broken Rithmatist Circles Thorin’s transition into dragon sickness in the and little drops of blood appear all over the book is long and painful, yet in the movie campus. Does everyone die? Read this book! the transition was just like...that. Over the 6 movie is not Peter Jackson’s best. Zendure A2 Portable Interstellar Charger Movie Rated Portable charger Critic: Morty, Jr. Critic: Kickstarter Rating: Good enough to be true Rating: Good enough to be true This is a great movie but it is a A portable power bank for any USB charger. takeoff of 2001: A Space Works with just about every phone, tablet, etc. Odyssey. It is also a space 6000 mAh if you know that that even means. It exploration movie. It is about a should charge your phone from 0-100% about 1.5 father who lives in future dying earth and -2 times. (2-2.5 if you have an iphone 6 or 6+) accidentally stumbles onto NASA and becomes an charge the power bank then charge your device astronaut. See it to find out what happens next! (will take about 3 hours to charge the power bank)> Comes with a very inefficient charging cord (Works with everything but iphone) so use the charger that comes with your device. Very Matilda durable and very fast. Very thick so it will fit in By Roald Dahl everything but your pocket. Rating 8/10. Critic: WishMaker

Rating: Too good to be true Scarlet This book seems to have By A.C. Gaughen woven its way into main- Critic: Paris stream culture, with a movie Rating: Too good to be true already made and a broadway play that came right from London, but that’s The first of the series, Scarlet rightfully so. This book is fantastic. The is an amazing twist on the characters are unique (as Roald Dahl’s characters classic Robin Hood tales. always are) and well developed. They feel like Will Scarlet is often known people, not words on paper. The story offers a as Robin’s best friend. In mature view of childhood, and it works. Matilda is this story, Scarlet is basically mature and intelligent beyond her years, and find Robin’s best friend, except he is a she. No one good use for her unusual brain power. Read more else knows that Scarlet is a girl except Robin. The to find out! plot is centered around the famous rivalry between Robin Hood’s Band of Merry Men and the Sheriff of Nottingham. These adventures lead The Missing Book up to a MAJOR plot twist. If you know anything One: Found about Robin Hood, like romance, and are ok with By Margaret Peterson Haddix violence, this is a wonderful fresh new book for Critic: Athena the Wise M. you. Rating: Too good to be true

Found was an excellent book

with mystery and

unpredictable plot. In this first book of a remarkable series, Jonah, a 13 year old boy, always knew he was adopted, but he doesn’t know from where. Suddenly he and many others get a letter saying: They are coming back to get you! To find out what happens to Jonah read this book.

7 I am Malala (Young Read- ers Edition) By Malala Yousafzai Critic: Peanut Rating: Too good to be true Have you heard of how terrible women are treated in the Middle East? If you’re interested about how one girl stood up for her rights because she loved to learn, read this book. With the help of her father, a Neon Pegasus person who would stand with his daughter any time, Malala successfully informs people about Song how women should get equal rights as boys. Critic: Skittles Everything goes smoothly, until Malala is shot in Rating: Too good to be true the head. Does she live? Read this book. Colorful, catchy, and slightly strange, famous youtube song-writer Parry Gripp has made his lat- est hit. You may know his more famous songs, American Graffiti “Do You Like Waffles,” “Jumpin on a Trampoline,” Movie Rated “Space Unicorn,” or “Raining Tacos,” but “Neon Critic: Hud5-TP Pegasus” is just as great, and in my opinion Rating: Socks with sandals whould be up there on the famous list. This song is about a neon-coloered Pegasus flying through This movie is by the famous space and finding her freedom. Parry Gripp has George Lucas (creator or Star don it again! I highly recommend looking this up Wars). This movie is a very in your Youtube search bar. different change from the sci-

fi theme we know. This movie is about four teens Hitchhiker’s Guide to in the 60s. Two of them are about to go to college and they each go their separate ways in the Galaxy the story. One goes to a dance. Another cruising. By Douglas Adams This would have been better if this movie wasn’t Critic: Disney Fan so long. Rating: Good enough to be true Fantasia This book is about a man Movie Rated G named Arthur Dent who is Critic: Disney Fan taken off planet Earth by this alien friend, Ford Rating: Too good to be true Prefect, before the planet is destroyed to make way for a galactic freeway. These two begin a If you have not seen this journey through space along with the three- movie you must. It’s like a headed president of the Galaxy, Zaphod concert with animated visuals. Beeblebrox, his girlfriend, Trillian and the Adapting classic music like The depressed robot Marvin. This is a very funny Rite of Spring, The Dance of book. If you want to know what the meaning of Hours plus Mickey Mouse as The Sorcerer’s life is read this book (the answer is in chapter 27 Apprentice. One thing I really like is how the stars on page 181). Don’t panic, just read the book. are only the composers and animaters. Fantasia is a classic to behold forever.

8 The League Chicken Little Thatcher Heldring Movie Rated G Critic: Mak Attack Critic: Disney Fan Rating: Good enough to be Rating: Socks with sandals true Have you ever wondered This is a great book where what it was like if a well- middle schooler Wyatt Parker known fairy tale was altered has to decide whether or not into an alien invasion movie? to lie to his friends and family If you are that is strange and to do what he loves; play unnatural but then this is your movie. After his football. What will Wyatt choose? Read this cliff- infamous Sky Falling Incident, Chicken Little is hanger book to find out. trying to find a way to redeem himself and earn the respect of his father and the town. He later Assassin’s Creed discovers that aliens are coming to presumably Unity take over the planet and it’s up to him to stop them. This is not your average Disney film. It’s Video game lower than your average Disney film. While the Critic: Suit Up! humore is great and some of the characters are Rating: Too good to be true good, it has a very mean tone on how the town Unity is the newest and the best AC game yet. It treats the main character. It’s not bad, but it’s no takes place during the French Revolution. It is an Disney masterpiece. 6/10. extremely violent and fun game. During the game you are trying to hunt down the man who killed your girlfriend’s father. 2001: A Space Odyssey Movie Rated The Red Pyramid Critic: Morty Jr. By Rick Riordin Rating: Too good to be true Critic: Suit Up! This isa movei not unlike Inter- Rating: Good enough to be stellar (which was in theaters true recently!). It is a space explo- If you like Percy Jackson you ration movie that explores the will like Kane Chronicles. The wonders of space. It shows humanity at all of the Kane Chronices is an Egyptian important changing points through times and it is version of it. It’s full of Egyptian gods. just a cool movie. Who hasn’t seen the scene when the pre-human human throws the bone into the air and it changes into a spaceship? So go see The Killing it, and enjoy! By Robert Muchamore Critic: Mak Attack Rating: Good enough to be true The Killing by Robert Muchamore has you on the end of your seats. Janes gets recruited on a mission to try to find out who killed this mysterious person named will. It’s scary, it’s 9 super, it is The Killing by Robert Muchamore. Meet the Critics

Skittles HUD5-TP Hello. I am HUD5-TP but Books, Minecraft, my friends call me Hudstrap animals, Pokemon, (If I had any). Wow it’s dub- FNAF, and Caramel. stop time wub-wub-wub, That’s really it... drop unch wub-wub-wub- wub-unch-unch-unch Athena the Wise. M I ♥ Books. And Totally Not Maxwell knitting and I’m See! I wasn’t Erica! But smart. am I Maxwell? Or am I really Amy? Peanut Kickstarter Peanut + Books = Life. Morty Jr. That’s all there is to Trap, house, big bass kicks Baseball is love, say. and 808s are too much for baseball is life. I have hand(s). my $30 Apple earbuds. Turquoise. Roman soldiers. For Guess who. Grammarconda the Win. #TeamFurious Eat. Sleep. Read. Paris Suit Up! Bonjour! I am in ze 8th grade. Seven Half-Bloods shall I like ze Disney. M.C. Giggles answer the call. To storm I don’t take or fire the world must fall. Sparkles, glitter, more French. An oath kept at the final sparkles, sequins and breath as foes bear arms at most of all giggles the doors of death. #LOL P.S. Suit Up!!! Mak Attack I love reading. WishMaker Disney Fan Enough said. I am in love with Disney Some spin-off of movies. My favorite is The the cliché genie Hunchback of Notre Dame. Stewie Griffon wish stereotype, but 4 wishes You can expect reviews of because it’s my favorite number. I love many Disney movies from me No extra comment needed. sophisticated this year. toddlers too! 10