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Ben Book Group Reviews Page 1:\

No More Dead Dogs

by Gordon Korman

In the exciting novel No More Dead Dogs, Wallace Wallace, a 7th Grade football star, is forced into sitting at his schools play for play rehearsals about his least favorite book leaving him unable to attend any of his football events. His unfair language arts teacher, Mr.Foglemen, is starting to get frustrated as Wallace begins changing lines to the play, but this is only the beginning. Rachel, an uptight want to be actress, is forced to put up Wallace with who she thinks is a dumb jock. Not only does she have to deal with him, but has to listen to her best friend Trudi talk about how much of a crush she has on Wallace.

As the story continue peoples opinions start to change, but it is up to you to figure out whose and what points of views change. Will Wallace end up liking the drama club or will he continue his detention until a decent book report is given? Will Rachel and Mr.Foglemen be able to put up with this all-star or will they crack under frustration? I really enjoyed this comedic story as well as its surprises. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who likes to be entertained and shocked or who also maybe in middle school for how relatable the story is.

- Genaro Camacho

 Z is for Zacariah        

by Robert C. O'Brien

Ann Burden is completely alone. She is possibly the only living creature left in the world due to bombing from a nuclear war. There is no evidence of any other survivors. Everyone she had known has unfortunately passed away because of the poisonous gas. During the past year, she has managed to survive by living in a remote valley. In hopes to avoid becoming mentally insane, she writes in her journal everyday. Ann is getting used to having no company at all, so she is completely caught off-guard when she sees smoke off into the distance. Could the smoke be coming from a fellow human? Should she hide? Or should she find him or her, with the mysterious person possibly being the only other human left in the world?

Or was that all an illusion, proving that she really is slowly becoming insane?

I recommend this book to high-level middle and high school students, since this book contains an advanced plot and setting. Anyone who will read “Z Is For Zachariah” will definitely be amazed and shocked by this uniquely different book.

-Tessalou Valera

Trial By Journal  

by Kate Klise

Imagine you’re on a jury for one of the biggest cases in history. The victim was your best friend when you were little kids and the plaintiff appears to be a dirty, harmful guy. But your curiosity soon leads you to find out that everything is not what it seems and the plaintiff is just a worthless pawn in the game. This is exactly what happens to Lily Watson in Trial By Journal. Read this journal to find out more about this intriguing case.

I recommend this book to Middle Schoolers who enjoy reading mystery and contemporary books.

-Hur Teoh

Well Witched

by Frances Hardinge

Ryan and his friends need bus money to get home in time. They don’t think twice about taking coins from a wishing well. Nobody cares, do they? Yes, the witch of the well cares, and she demands payback. She won’t take money. The kids have to grant all the wishes that the coins represented. But the wishes turn out badly, and are getting harder and harder to grant, even with the creepy powers that the witch gives the kids.

How far can they go to grant a wish? Is murder too much? Will Josh be able to handle his powers without ruining everything?

This creepy, funny and surprising fantasy should appeal to middle schoolers who like their humor dark and their adventures unpredictable.

Deadly Pink

by Vivian Vande Velde

Middle School the Worst Years of my Life 
By James Patterson

     In this comedic book a sixth grader, Rafe Katchidorian, finds himself struggling to survive through middle school. He’s always is trying to find ways to slip out of trouble. Rafe soon decides life in the sixth grade is boring so gets the idea to create his own little game. The game is to break all the rules in the code of conduct at his school with the help of Leo, of course. Every rule that is broken will earn you points and the more rules you break the more points you get.

     Rafe has now started playing his game. There’s no turning back. As he tries to reach his goals he has to face his mother’s mean boyfriend, whom he calls Bear, annoying younger sister Georgia, stubborn teachers, cruel bullies, his true love, Jeanne Galleta, and imaginary friend, Leo. Will Rafe beat his own game? Will life in the sixth grade get easier? Or will he fail to get through all the rules?

     I love this hilarious book which has many surprising and fantastic twists. Readers who like comedies and are in grades between 4-8, this is the book for you.

By Genaro Camacho

Holes 
By Louis Sacher

The main character in this inspiring story is an overweight teenage boy names Stanley Yelnats. Wrongly accused of committing the crime of stealing a famous pair of sneakers from an orphanage, he is sent to a juvenile correctional facility, also known as Camp Green Lake. Camp Green Lake is a place where all day, every day, boys are required to dig huge holes, despite the desert-like atmosphere. There, Stanley meets other boys who have committed some sort of crime, including a small boy nicknamed Zero.

Everyone in camp agrees that Zero has no knowledge whatsoever, but they all know that he is the fastest digger in camp. Stanley and Zero quickly became friends, and later on, they come up with a deal, saying if Stanley teaches Zero how to read and write, Zero would dig his hole for him. After being made fun of by one off the Camp Green Lake staff members, Zero runs off into the vast desert.

What should Stanley do? Should he risk his life trying to find and save him, or should he pretend he never even existed?

Later on in the story Stanley sets off to find Zero and finds him nearly dead. They decided to go to a cliff, called “Big Thumb” in hopes of finding water. In the story’s ending, they both survive, go back to camp, and find a hidden treasure in one of the wholes.

I think this book would be enjoyed by middle school students because I certainly have.

Tessalou Valera (6th grade)

Downtown 
By Norma Fox Mazer

        Everyone looks at Pete Greenwood and thinks that he is a happy child, but he is not. He has very few memories of his parents, Hal and Laura Connors since they have been running away from the government, and has to lie about his name and who he really is. Then one day he sees his mom on television because she had turned herself in and has to go to jail. The even bigger news is that Laura has invited Pete to live with her friend who lives in New York until she gets out of jail.

Will Pete leave his only family, Uncle Gene, who has raised him since he was a little boy, and his girlfriend Cary, or go all the way to New York and abandon them?

I recommend this book to 6th graders who are intrigued with adventurous books.

Hur Teoh

Grim Tuesday 
By: GARTH NIX

After returning from the long and weary adventure to gain the key to Monday. he was called up once again to gain the key of Tuesday. to do this he must venture the far reaches, steal a  sunship, deal with grotesques (created by grim Tuesday to by melting is dawn, noon, and dusk together Grim Tuesday created the seven grotesques)

Will Arthur get the next part if the will? Will Arthur defeat the seven grotesques? And will Arthur survive this adventure filled with daring?

I think readers of large imagination will enjoy this book more than others.

ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NOT….GAY 

By: David Larochelle