Trash

by Andy Mulligan

Summary:
Raphael, Gardo, and Rat have never known a life without want.  Their days are not spent in school, but sorting through the trash dump looking for things they can use or sell.  Then one day their lives change with what they find.  It may have seemed to be just a simple brown leather satchel, but the map it contained would lead them to a treasure that would change their lives forever.  As long as they lived long enough to find it.

Review:
Mulligan's book is told through through the alternating perspectives of Raphael, Gardo and Rat, as well as other important characters who appear throughout the book.  While the writing itself is not stellar, and the story itself is a bit underdeveloped. the 3 boys are decent characters who hold your attention.  The story does seem to come together a bit superficially, how 3 mostly illiterate boys are able to decipher a complex code is just a little unbelievable. Overall it's good for a quick read for those who like a bit of adventure and danger in their books.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade

Zoobreak

 Zoobreak

Author: Gordon Korman

Publisher: New York : Scholastic Press, 2009.

Plot Description:

            When Savannah’s pet mokey Cleo disappears, she and her friends Griffin and Ben look everywhere for him.  What they don’t expect is to find her in the floating zoo their teacher takes them to on a field trip.  But this zoo isn’t a nice zoo, it’s the dirtiest, most disgusting place that Savannah has ever seen.  And when the zookeeper refuses to admit that Cleo is Savannah’s, it’s up to Griffin, the ‘man with the plan,’ to come up with a way to get Cleo back before the zoo takes off for it’s next port.  In a fun filled adventure Griffin enlists the help of his classmates for Operation Zoobreak. 

Review:

            Zoobreak is a fun story about kids taking matters into their own hands when parents can’t solve a problem.  With excellently written characters, Korman creates a story which will appeal to all tweens because they will surely find someone to identify with.  The book focuses on a love of animals, but the plot has a few fun twists and any would be lawbreaker will enjoy the misadventures of Griffin and his gang. 

Genre: Animal Fiction

Reading level: 5^th Grade

Similar Books: Artemis Fowl

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Fun characters and excellent plot turns

Subjects/themes- Animals, Adventure, Zoos, Theft

Series information- Second book involving Griffin and his gang

Character names/descriptions-

            Savannah- loves all animals, Cleo is her monkey

            Griffin- the man with the plan

            Ben- has narcolepsy, but a ferret they free from the zoo fixes all that

            Mr Natase- the mean owner of “All About Animals’

Annotation: When all else fails, the man with the plan will come through!