David Copperfield, de Charles Dickens

This book tells the story of David Copperfield. He had a difficult life. When he was born, his father was already dead. He lived happily with his mother for nine years. But then things started to change. His mother married again, but with a really bad man. He sent David to a school in London were teachers made pupils punch each other. When he went back home, he discovered that his mother was dead. He was really sad, but not his stepfather. He made David work in a cafe. ¿Would he find a good family?

My rating: 8

Saladin, by Nina Prentice

When Yusuf was fourteen, his father sent him to General Shikuh, so he could be a soldier. Shihuh, Yusuf's uncle, didn't like how he fought, so the made Yusuf be an officice boy. When he was twenty five, the war started in Syria (where he lived).  All the soldiers went to Egypt to battle, even Yusuf.  They freed Egypt from the Franks and, as Shikuh died and Yusuf was his nephew, Yusuf became the new king of Egypt. He changed his name to Saladin and continued battling the Franks.  He died when we was 65 and lots of people remembered him as a great general and a kind man.

My rating: 5

Wallace and grommit, A close shave

Wallace and Grommit went to clean Wendolene's windows. When they got home, they found a sheep called Shaun.  Then, they read a newspaper and discovered that there were some sheep thieves, and they thought that Shaun had scaped from the thieves. Later, they discovered that the thief was Preston, but he blamed Grommit and made him go to jail. He tries to scape to demostrate he's innocent ...

My opinion:  This was a homework from school, to be read during Christmas holidays. I didn't like it very much. There is a movie too.

My rating: 3

Babe, the sheep pig, by Dick King-Smith

At the beginning, Babe arrived at the new farm and he became friend with Fly, the dog. Fly showed Babe how to work with the sheep. Then, he took Babe with him to the field where the sheep stayed. The farmer saw Babe working with the sheep and he thought that he did it very well. He took Babe to the sheep-dog competition. Would he win ?

My opinion:  There is a popular movie based on this book. I had to read it for a school project.

My rating: 8

Magic Tree House, Good Morning Gorillas

This time, Jack and Annie go to the cloud forest. There, they find a baby gorilla called Bu-Bu, that brings them to a safe place to pass the night.  But when they wake up in the morning, they see that they're souronded by gorillas. What can they do?

My opinion:  Not very exciting.

My rating: 5

Magic Tree House, Tigers at Twilight

Jack and Annie have to find four magic gifts if they want to free Teddy from his spell. In this book, they are looking for the third gift, and they go to India with funny monkeys, big elephants and fierce tigers.  Will they get it ?

My opinion: Thanks, Nicole, for sending the book from US.

My rating: 7

Vincent Van Gogh, an artist struggle

 

Van Gogh was born in Netherlands in 1853. He was a very educated boy, but he copied bad manners at school from his classmates, and he changed school four times. When he was sixteen, he started to work in different places, until he decided to start painting (when he was 27 years old). He had a mental disease and a tragic ending, but his pictures became very famous later.

My opinion:  I bought this book today in the Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam). Mine is in English, but the picture above has the title in Dutch, the original language.

My rating: 7

Magic Tree House, Mammoth to the rescue

Jack and Annie went to the Tree House just after their swim class. The house started to spin and spin while reading a book. Suddenly they were in the Ice Age. Peanut, the mouse, ran away and dissapeared in the snow.  Jack and Annie were very cold because they had only got their swimming suits on, but they went out to look for her.  Where was she?

My opinion:  Funny. You read it in 15 minutes.

My rating:  8

Magic Tree House, Moon Mision

 

Jack and Annie go to the tree house at midnight.  They do not say anything to their parents because it's a secret that have discovered the Magic Tree House. This time they travel to a space hotel. They have to find the fourth M-thing to get Morgana out of a spell.When they go out to the Moon to find the M-thig, Jack falls into a hole. Annie pulls him out, but when they're passing a mountain a meteorite falls in their way. Annie and Jack both fell into a hole.

My opinion:  I like it, but it's a little short

My rating: 8

Magic Tree House, Castle of Mystery

Jack and Annie are brother and sister. In the first book they found a tree house full of old books, they opened one of dinosaurs and suddenly they were in the dinosaurs world. Now they get a book of knights and they are transported to the medieval era. They have a lot of problems with a castle, a moat with crocodiles and some persons that want to catch them.

My opinion: Interesting. I would read another one.

My rating: 9

Magic Tree House, Valley of the Dinosaurs

(First post in English. My father insisted and insisted)

Jack and Annie are brother and sister. They were spending some time alone in the forest. They were playing when they saw an old tree house. They went in. There were a lot of books. Jack opened one of dinosaurs and said "I wish I could see a dinosaur for real". Then, Annie screamed and shouted: "A monster!".  It was a dinosaur. Jack and Annie were in the dinosaurs world.  How could they return home?

My opinion: It's a very interesting book. I would read more of this collection.

My rating:  9