The End of the Beginning

Its my birthday today, so the review is going to be about one of my favorite books. It will also be a little shorter than normal, no rest for the weary, but I hope you will not begrudge me a little break.

The End of the Beginning, by Avi, is a book about a snail and an ant who go off in search on adventures. As they travel the length of a branch, they meet all sorts of colorful animals. They come help a caterpillar, teach a song to a cricket, and discover a dragon in disguise. Along the way they also learn the importance of friendship.

This is one of my favorite books just because of the witty way in which it is told. It is not a hard book to read by any means, but it contains a kind of logic that makes you really think. The way that the ant and the snail see the world is very different from the way that you or I would see it, and this makes for some very interesting dialogs that really make you question the way the world really is. In the end, the book teaches you how to make even the most ordinary of days into adventures, a technique that can turn a dreary day into one of excitement and wonder. The simple way in which the ant and the snail conquer the challenges that are set before them, and the way that they think their way through with a logic that is funny but also carries wisdom will appeal to children of all ages and most adults as well. If you think that you need a break from the monotony or fast pace of daily life, The End of the Beginning offers a great way to escape from the rigors of your life. It will draw you in and leave you with a sense of wonder of your life that will transform even the simplest of tasks into pleasurable experiences.

The Wheel on the School

The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong, is a book about a small fishing town named Shora, and the adventures that they children of Shora have as they try to get storks to nest in Shora. It all starts when a girl named Lina writes a composition about Storks. This sets off a frenzied discussion that soon turns into an adventure that has the children searching the whole country-side for a wheel. They search far and wide, in places where a wheel could be, and places where a wheel could not be. In the process they make friends of he most unlikely of people, and learn important lessons about themselves and their village.

I really enjoyed Meinder DeJong's story. It was both entertaining and heartwarming, and I have read it many times since I first opened it. The book won a Newbery Medal, and is a great story of friendship and adventure. Though I read it when I was in fourth or fifth grade, the story can also appeal to middle school students. The book offers some great points for discussion and will have you wanting your own pair of Storks on your roof. It will also leave you questioning your own life, for that is what this book is really about. It is a book about questions, and the ways in which a simple question can transform a person, a school, and a village.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, is a book about four young gifted children. They all read a newspaper advertisement that says "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" They all take the test and are asked to infiltrate a school for gifted children stop an evil genius, and save the world! All through the book they face a series of challenges that challenge their intellect and friendship.

I really enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society. As a gifted student, I really connected to the characters and their challenges in the book. The author's mix of humor and adventure was very enjoyable as well, and the way that the different characters personalities meshed added a great feel to the book. Each of the different characters has their own strengths and weaknesses, and all of the characters support each other, and their streangths complement each other perfectly.

Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel, is a book about a young boy named Piscine, Pi for short, who is both a religious enthusiast and the son of a zookeeper. He and his family are sailing with their animals from India to North America. The ship sinks, and Pi manages to climb aboard a life boat, only to find that his companions on the life boat are a hyena, orangutan, a zebra, and a Bengal tiger. Soon, all but Pi and the tiger are dead, and Pi is left in a horrible situation, where he must use his knowledge and fear to keep him alive every day.

Life of Pi, cast as an adventure story, is more about the way that people react when faced with less-than-ordinary situations. The book throws Pi into various challenges, the first of which is staying alive on a small boat with a Bengal tiger. Stranded in the Pacific ocean, Pi has to keep himself alive using both disgusting and comical tactics. This book brings up fundamental questions about the way the world acts and how people think, and the final twist gives you twice as much to think about. If you are looking for a thought provoking adventure novel, look no further than Life of Pi.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist is a internationally acclaimed book by Paulo Coelho is about a boy named Santiago who goes on a journey in search of treasure. While on the outside, this book is a simple fable about following your dreams, when you delve deeper into the novel, you find advice on many more subjects ranging from ideas about the human heart to thoughts on how to obtain happiness. The story starts as a quest to find a treasure buried near the pyramids; however, by the end of the book, Santiago has not only found his treasure, but also his true love as well as a deep understanding of how the world works.

The book starts when Santiago, who is living his dream as a shepherd, meets an old king has a dream about a treasure buried near the Pyramids. From there he seeks guidance from a gypsie woman, a king, and finally an Alchemist. During his journey he learns about Personal Legends, or one's destiny. He learns how to listen to his heart, and discovers the treasures within himself.

Paulo Coelho is an extraordinary story teller, and his tale of finding one's destiny will have you enchanted until the final page. He offers you a new view into the way the world is structured, and his book will have you searching for your own Personal Legend and the way to become truly happy.